Jeram not only expressed his expertise in aesthetics but also presented a whole new experience of exploring the woods in its essence. A new exhibition called ‘A Reconstruct’ opened recently at the Palette Art Gallery, which exhibits the collection that pays a retrospective tribute to Jeram Patel’s career, which spanned almost sixty years. Jeram is widely known for his critical means of exploring different mediums that not only present his authority but also the philosophy of daily life. His experimental style of work varies in diverse ways and exposes the viewer to distinctive forms that delve into the quintessential imagery. Patel was never interested in the academic style of art, and he rejected the traditional notion of creation. Thus, he created a new language of modernism in India, and his experiments with materials gave rise to critical abstraction and strong visual elements. His blowtorch works reflected his keen interest in decorative aspects, as well as the playful nature of the material. He liked black, it became his innate tendency to prefer black to any other color, and his fascination rejected and opposed the idea of finding solace in bright colors.
His skillful representation of material is creatively visible and becomes a matter of discourse in a way that his blowtorch techniques explain the subconscious narratives that emerge from his daily experiences and his study abroad. His sense of inquiring about the material, especially the wood, is highly interactive in terms of his association with it. His approach to exploring the possibility of forming a new shape determines his critical decision that comes from his subtle mind. Jeram always includes himself in his works as if he is also a part of the canvas or the wood for that matter. This conscious process contributes to the closer and more effective connection with the works as if he is creating and carving himself.
“The solo exhibition of Jeram Patel is a tribute to an illustrious career spanning almost sixty years, showcasing the profound impact of his non-conformist spirit and unique artistic approach. As a pioneer who rebelled against modernistic norms, Patel’s work, from blowtorch-on-wood experiments to black-and-white drawings, reflects his imaginative force and originality. Co-founding ‘Group 1890’ with like-minded artists, his art transcends the real, delving into existential and spiritual realms. The exhibition authentically decodes and reconstructs Patel’s journey, offering viewers an enchanting exploration of materiality, imagery, and the mysteries of life and death. Jeram Patel’s enduring influence, celebrated in this show, invites a renewed appreciation of his timeless art,” says the gallery.
“In his early works, we find him mixing spirits and grittiness of material – tempera mixed with sand, plaster, polymer, zinc white, fevicol, etc. creating an image through a deliberate working – where mystery takes over conscious and learned ways of making,” it adds. Jeram’s sheer passion for abstraction and unwavering dedication to distorted realities in his works remains unmatched and establishes him as one of the popular artists who is committed to reflecting the major human queries in his works.
Art critic and poet Prayag Shukla, who was also a dear friend of Patel, words, “Jeram Patel’s seminal contribution to contemporary Indian Art is well recognized and is rightly seen as unique, in terms of evocative imagery and charged energy, which manifests existential, as well as spiritual queries and intents, in a free yet assertive manner. Starting from the blowtorch on wood, in the early sixties he gradually moved on to the black and white drawings, done in ink on paper, in a sustained way.”
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