Of god, art and experiments with form

‘Ganesha', S.G. Vasudev's exhibition at YepArt on Cunningham Road, is unusual for two reasons. A self-professed non-believer undertaking a series on a deity doesn't bear further explanation, for one. And second, the start of the exhibition also saw Vasudev, one of India's most senior artists, perform his first ever public demonstration in the gardens of Hatworks Boulevard.

"Why Ganesha," Vasudev reiterates: Images of the deity had long since been a part of his artistic explorations, although they had never come together in a series or found formal public exhibition. Most of the works had been done in 1994 and lay forgotten with Vasudev's sister. "I picked them up when I moved to my farmhouse and the paintings remained there for a long time as well," said Vasudev. Along with these were four copper works from 2007 and a handful of oil paintings done in 2003-04. Still, it had never occurred to Vasudev to have a show. "I decided to have some of them re-framed and after that, I began looking at the possibility of approaching a gallery." Naozar Daruwalla, of YepArt, agreed at once.

Born and raised in a fairly conservative family, Vasudev had grown up amidst the traditions and teachings of Hinduism.

Born and raised in a fairly conservative family, Vasudev had grown up amidst the traditions and teachings of Hinduism. All that changed, however, when he entered art school in Chennai for the first time. "I broke away from all those beliefs and began asking questions instead. What did I want from my life? Did I want to be a traditionalist and follow the norm or break away on my own?" He read every book on existentialism he could lay his hands on and stumbled upon the work of philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurthy. "I would hear him speak whenever I could and he made a great impact on me. He said we create our own problems and it's up to us to find a way out of them, too. I believe in a power, but I don't know if I would call it God although one thing was for sure - I had turned away from religious motifs of all kinds."

It was through the process of breaking away that his own understanding began to emerge. A frustrating moment in the midst of completing a painting - a form or technique that led to a dead end - would manifest in abstract renditions of Lord Ganesha.

"I had left behind all this and Ganesha still isn't, to my mind, a deity, but I found great breakthroughs in his form, it's one that I could play with. I can't take those liberties with Vishnu or Brahma or Shiva figures, while Ganesha presented a world of possibilities - I could make it simple, abstract or symbolic. The form lends itself to versatility - we see so many interpretations of it even today, especially during the festival season!" Works that have been acquired often found their way into puja rooms, says Vasudev, adding, "This is true of the copper idols especially. However, once a work is acquired, the person is free to do as they please with it!"

It's a subject, says Vasudev, that he can live on. "I believe in exploring new possibilities and Ganesha's form seems to have enabled that." It's also what prompted him to conduct a live demonstration, something he has staunchly refused to do outside of art camps or schools. Even then, Vasudev customarily props his easel against a wall and sits by himself in a corner until he feels "He has complete control over the painting," he remarked, lapsing into an anecdote. "I would visit K.K. Hebbar when he was ill - I even bought him drawing paper in the hope that it would encourage him to work. When I went back to see him the next week, he said, 'I can draw, but I have nothing new to say'. That's why I'm always exploring new possibilities. It's about pushing yourself and redefining the boundaries."

What: The Comic Con 2016
When: 12th and 13th of November between 11am to 6pm
Where: KTPO Convention Centre, Whitefield