2005
I
am Premchand. I am very happy to present my work though this small book of
paintings. I cannot put my thoughts in words, but you can read my paintings
like a novel. I have painted various aspects of thoughts and forms as and when
they stimulated my mind. They are my views, observations and conclusions in
visual form. Variation in human nature teaches me to view the world through
different angles. My paintings may not always appeal to every individual psych,
though an intuitive mind would read the thoughts behind every painting, I hope
to bring in good energy and contentment through visual appeal. My work will
meet its ultimate destiny only if it has a deep impact on our life.
That
is why I quote “My painting is better than sex…” – Tathi Premchand.
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| (Tathi Premchand studio- 2018) |
Character,
nature or simple colors symbolizing the psyche of a person, all find their way
in my art. Being observant has helped me to add color to the feelings. Charged
with the passion for painting. I feel myself grow with each and every work that
I undertake. I wish to share to my feelings with the world, so I have brought
my art into the arena where all art lovers could express their world by possessing
the selected ones.
Tathi
Premchand.
The
sketches of the different aspects of the snail’s life are the metaphor of human
life. In ‘Run from home’ a snail is seen leaving itshells. Just as the shell of
a snail is the protective cover and a heaven for the tender and helpless life
within, so also a fetus that starts growing in the womb of mother is safe and
secure till it leaves the wombs. Thereafter life is full of struggle and
dangers. Cautious steps and conscious efforts to be safe and secure slow down
the pace of life. Most of the sketches representing the pattern of life are in
black and white’ cause every individual adds color to life only through
confrontation of various experiences. The life moves on, without being aware of
its destination. The end is unavoidable and it’s different every
individual. The only similarity among
all is the purity at the time of birth untouched by character pollutant forward
movement through high and lows and then, the attainment of eternity.
Out
of many characters, the one that forms the large part of his work is Woman. She
presented in various facets. The books and physical presentation of these women
project them as indomitable personalities. He discards of the view of the
woman being weak and dependent. In nude
paintings, she is not shy and awkward but proud, and confident who is well
aware of her sensuality and power, also capable of handling people
affectionately without scruple. ‘I am not nude’ is the attitude that oozes from
every part of her body and gesture. ‘A
woman with knife’ is an excellent work of her of her being sweet poison
expressing most of her sexual whimps for selfish motive.
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| Tathi Premchand Studio |
Right
from the birth bosom is inseparable from life itself, be they human
beings or animals, it has a magical, soothing charm on young and old. The
paintings are successful in electrifying and clearly portray various feelings
such as motherly care, sensuality, pride confidence and so on.
Premchand also presents the bleak side of woman’s
nature. Her goals, aspirations, withes and desires all find way in his work.
‘Seven Desires’ portray a woman who always tries to find all those qualities in
men, which she expects from her life partner. She fails to have that perfection
in any man whom she meets. She has many friends, with a unique quality that she
expects but the man of her dream always remain a myth. The prince on white
horse represents that macho man whom she never meets in her lifetime. Her
unfulfilled desire does not fight against her fate instead compromise with
whatever she has.
A woman is demanding cooperative and
caring, Along with these traits she nurtures self-pride which can be clearly
seen on the face of a pregnant woman. Motherhood is a very emotional and
possessive period in life of everywoman blessed with the power to bring A life
in this world. In ‘Me and Mother’ the adorable to-be mother is full of love and
care for the unseen child, who comfortably grows in her womb. She caresses her
unborn child. The thought of new life engulfs her with the sense of prosperity.
Her apprehensive nature does not go unnoticed. The sudden changes in her mood, attitude towards life that change with circumstances are captures in paintings like ‘Cloud and Rain ‘and ‘First Rain.’ The posture of a girl depicts her longing and unspoken desires. The nature of a woman is always unpredictable still adorable in spite of all odds.
Man
and woman together make the world. The union is a must for the cycle of the
life to progress. This presentation is made through attractive figures and
alluring colors. The contradictions and similarities are handled subtly.
Throughout this series one observes that the male is more beautiful. Woman is
sensuous. Premchand observes that male species is more attractive than their
female counterparts, giving us the instances of the Peacock, Lion, Cock etc.
The Peacock is a recurring image and
color blue is associated with male image to add to the beauty of the concept.
The simple strokes are deliberately used to avoid any unfathomable feelings.
Nudity and simplicity are the soul of these paintings. Male’s tall, robust and attractive self and
women’s sensuality, always seen attracting and repelling from each other, like two blades are separated they become
useless, thus man and woman depend on each other thought out their life.
There is also an urge for superiority
and domination over each other. The competition continues. As shown in
‘Imitation’ a woman and man are in the Shirhasan position. But as we observe,
we find ourselves wondering at the posture of woman. It seems disturbing; everywhere
a woman is expected to follow the rules set for her. If she tries to complete
with man she faces lot of criticism. He progresses is never appreciated and her
character is always doubted in the process. Premchand is totally against this
system of thought. He is not a feminist but believes in equality of sex. But
competition is not always fruitful. Nature has carved both man and woman with a
particular purpose and any attempt to go against it has a vulgar and awkward
result.
Cruel and Cruelty brings alive
various experiences that are lavish, livid, dumb and sometimes horrifying,
“Cruel and cruelty” is one each topic that he deals with frankness, without
being biased about the facts. Some paintings depict lust in animal form. The brutality of human on weaker species of
animals, the sacrifice of innocent animals is boldly painted.
In ‘Human Conservation’ a man holds a
rabbit in his hand to feed the partner. This painting was made when partners
attacked human in residential zones. The partner’s attack on human beings was
tacked by providing them live animals for food. This is a cruel act on the part
of human beings. To save himself and his children, man very brutally sacrifices
other innocent living beings.
In this series we are confronted with
innovative idea that taps our minds and we are bound to reconsider age-old
notions. Not only the in the human act against the animals but even man’s
atrocities against his fellow beings do not go unnoticed by the artist. An
animal kills another animal only to fulfill its basic need, whereas man kills
man for selfish motives and material gains. In historywe have the instance of
well-known personalities being assassinated. Their thoughts to go against the
set of rules stirred the minds of oppressors to such an extent that they were assassinated.
Jesus too was no exception.
‘You and us’ and ‘Any answer please!”
speaks of recent war between America and Iraq and the brutality the followed.
The false pride and cruel egos are responsible for havoc in the world,
disturbing the peaceful existence.
What
is the perfect way to lead a life? If nothing is permanent then why is there a
struggle for possession? Life is never
like we want it to be.
Premchand
patronizes Buddha’s disciple Monk Ananda who is full of such queries, and presents the stories where lord Buddha
fulfills his queries, and presents the stories where Lord Buddha fulfills his
queries by using illustration from real life. Though of ‘possession’ and
dignified ‘self’ is the reason for our suffering. It is absolutely necessary have
freedom from the vices of longing, greed and possessions paintings sensualizes
the spirit sensualize the spirituality.
There are few elements and concentration is on the presentation of
meditative effect. Brown, black and white are the basic colors used,
symbolizing Nothingness. The state where
every thought becomes blank and mind reaches eternity. The beauty and the depth
of subject are intensified with the mystic style adopted specially for this
series. The faces are blurred and use of flowing robes act as catalyst for
thoughts ideology portrayed. In ‘Play of Shadow of the moon. Along with the
moon’s shadow, only me monk’s shadow is seen. The other represents the
attainment of eternity, thus the physical existence is lost, spiritually reign.
Attachment of the life often hinders us from path of truth. The paintings with
a nail and scissor represent the sharp edges of want and attachment, which
refrainus from achieving the ultimate destination of Nirvana. Buddha had always
cautioned his discipline against blindly following what he said. Following
one’s mind crucial, since it’s the mind, this guides us in our action. In ‘The
wall’, the wall is nothing but our ego, which has to be transcended for the
freedom from materialistic existence and enter the world of eternity.
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| Tahi Premchand File photo 1992 |
As confessed by the artist himself, his paintings are
not just showpieces but are thoughts to ponder over. The simple forms and
images of common things are pleasing to the eye yet speak of rebellion. As
shown in ‘Mouth wide open’ three bowls of different size present the unborn.
The technological and scientific development has made cloning possible. Isn’t
it a challenge to nature?
Very often nature proves itself stronger than any
other force. Our development and effort prove useless in case of changing
seasons, earthquakes, tidal waves and volcanic eruptions. Mother Nature has its
own way of showing it true force, for good or bad. As in “Think twice’, a
vulture is shown as a messenger of peace. It is true that vulture does not kill,
but consumes the dead body. Vultures wait patiently till the living beings die
before consuming them. Thus it is neither harmful nor cruel. For the artist
nothing is useless or unwanted in nature. It is wrong to categorize any natural
creation as good or bad. Everything in nature works in harmony each other.
As we observe these paintings, we find variation in
theme and style. Each painting is highly sensitive and meticulously presented.
Some of them are painted in a grave and sarcastic manner and some are humorous
too.
This and that’ presents the need of water, for some
water is a luxury and for others it fulfills the basic needs. While presenting
the contradiction in life, the need for food is highlighted in ‘Food’ where a
man pulls a cart, balancing the earthen pot on his head and a very rich and
healthy man enjoys the ride in the concerned about the cart puller. The very
existence of living being is nothing but an endless rebel to achieve the
unachievable.
“It is not possible to step twice in the same river.”
–Heraclitus.
Throughout his career TathiPremchand proves it time
and gain. He refuses his work to be categorized in any particular “ism ‘but is
a blend of different genres. There is variety in his style. His paintings is
equal to a navel or a book full of thoughts, where it stirs the every core of
one’s being. The end result is excellent visual forms with deep insight into
the matter.
Experimenting with different modes, styles and medium
from mythology to modern science, from lust to love, from known to unknown,
from fact to fiction, man and woman all are very well depicted in his
paintings.
2005
Text from Pomegranate Tathi Premchand Book
Text by Pankaja JK 2005
Text by Pankaja JK 2005
