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"Frankly I did not even know what art was all about. When I was four, I read a poem written by the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. In his poem, Tagore had described three birds fighting on a kitchen terrace. ...
"Frankly I did not even know what art was all about. When I was four, I read a poem written by the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. In his poem, Tagore had described three birds fighting on a kitchen terrace. I was moved, and gave vent to my emotions on paper. That was my first painting."
Ajay De`s paintings continue to be shaped by his childhood memories. As an introvert, he often found himself at a loss for words, until he discovered the joy of putting pencil to paper to draw and express his feelings. His life, and the experiences that shaped it, were a source for inspiration. "All my paintings reflect the complexities and troubles that besiege modern day society. They are not deliberate efforts. They flow from within. I feel that art offers solutions to all problems in life, and my work offers a direction to these solutions," he explains.
De began his career rather unconventionally, eschewing colour and working on charcoal to convey his experiences on to canvas. "I channelled my energies into artistic expressions and learnt the right way to stroke the paper with my fingers and thumb, and even my palm, while sketching with a charcoal pencil. I believed there was more truth to black and white and that, colour, although appealing, did not pose a challenge. So black and white tones did not deter me, and I was not afraid to swim against the tide. I honed my skills at art colleges, drawing inspiration from my childhood memories, which had left an indelible mark," says De.
On his art, De believes: "Life has left its impressions, and these are portrayed in my drawings. I am still learning and will continue to do so. For this, I am thankful to all those who have helped me, either knowingly or unknowingly, in making me what I am today. My colours emanate from nature. There is a lot one can learn from it. It is sad that, today, man no longer finds time to stand and stare anymore."
Ajay De lives and works in Mumbai, and has exhibited extensively in Mumbai, Bangalore and Calcutta.
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"Frankly I did not even know what art was all about. When I was four, I read a poem written by the Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore. In his poem, Tagore had described three birds fighting on a kitchen terrace. I was moved, and gave vent to my emotions on paper. That was my first painting."
Ajay De`s paintings continue to be shaped by his childhood memories. As an introvert, he often found himself at a loss for words, until he discovered the joy of putting pencil to paper to draw and express his feelings. His life, and the experiences that shaped it, were a source for inspiration. "All my paintings reflect the complexities and troubles that besiege modern day society. They are not deliberate efforts. They flow from within. I feel that art offers solutions to all problems in life, and my work offers a direction to these solutions," he explains.
De began his career rather unconventionally, eschewing colour and working on charcoal to convey his experiences on to canvas. "I channelled my energies into artistic expressions and learnt the right way to stroke the paper with my fingers and thumb, and even my palm, while sketching with a charcoal pencil. I believed there was more truth to black and white and that, colour, although appealing, did not pose a challenge. So black and white tones did not deter me, and I was not afraid to swim against the tide. I honed my skills at art colleges, drawing inspiration from my childhood memories, which had left an indelible mark," says De.
On his art, De believes: "Life has left its impressions, and these are portrayed in my drawings. I am still learning and will continue to do so. For this, I am thankful to all those who have helped me, either knowingly or unknowingly, in making me what I am today. My colours emanate from nature. There is a lot one can learn from it. It is sad that, today, man no longer finds time to stand and stare anymore."
Ajay De lives and works in Mumbai, and has exhibited extensively in Mumbai, Bangalore and Calcutta.
B. A at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata.
M.A at Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2009, 04, 2000, 96 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009 Gallery Nakshatra, Kolkata
Tilting Gallery, Pune
2008 28, The Gallery, Cork Street, London
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
Gallery Bijutsu Sekai, Tokyo
2007 The Art House, Singapore
2006 Aicon Gallery, CA, USA
2003 The Asian Cultural Centre, New York
2002 Gallery at Resource Trust, Mumbai
Studio S, Pune
2001 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1999, 98 Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 Noa Gallery, Tokyo
Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai
1997 Artist’s Centre, Mumbai
Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
1994 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Visual Art, Cork Street, London
2005 Gallery Reflection, Hong Kong
2005, 04, 03, 02 Taj Blue Diamond Hotel, Pune
2005 Gallery Nakshtra, Kolkata
2004 Indian Exhibition, Dubai
2003 Gallery 127, Mumbai
2001 Singapore
1994 Aifacs, New Delhi
PARTICIPATIONS
2009 India Fine Arts, Mumbai
2008 Lakme Fashion Week, Mumbai
Asian Art Show, Tokyo
Uno Art Museum, Tokyo
Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008, 07, 06, 04, 1998 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Mumbai Festival, Mumbai
2005 India Habitat Centre, Delhi
Indian Art Gallery, Pune
2004, 02, 1998, 1995-97 Taj Blue Diamond Hotel, Pune
2004, 03, 02, 01 Harmony Show, Mumbai
2004 Tao of Shiva, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
Sun n Sand Hotel, Pune
2003, 02, 01 R.P.G. Art Camp, Mumbai
2003 Icon of Bengal Show at NGMA by RPG, Mumbai
The Horse Show, Boat Club, Pune
Taj Hotel Art Camp, Mumbai
2002 50 years celebration of Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
RPG Mela Show, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002 Oberoi Hotel Art Camp, Mumbai
Lake Palace Art Camp, Udaipur
1998 Colors of India, Dubai
1995-97 Academy of Fine Arts Pune
