Monalisa Patsani
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 24: Contemporary artist Jagannath Panda is known in the art world for works on mixed media. Panda, who was born in Bhubaneswar and lives in Gurugram, where he owns a studio, has mastered painting, sculpture, photography, and graphics. He was awarded the Lalit Kala Akademi award in 1990.
Panda’s works portray the conflict between the modern and traditional worlds. Orissa POST met the artist during his recent visit to Bhubaneswar — after a long while — for a workshop on video art organised by Utsah Foundation, the organisation he heads. Experts from the interview:
Q: Most of your works have animals as subjects placed in urban settings. What prompts these creations?
A: My works are mostly about ecology. Animals play an interesting role in ecology. They represent layered meanings that an admirer has to decipher. I represent them mostly in a theatrical way reflecting human condition. Be it a peacock, a rhinoceros, a deer or an owl, each animal conveys a meaning. The paintings are not about the animals, but about ecology and how urbanisation has affected us.
Q: You have used fabrics in your work. Do you also experiment with other materials?
A: Most of my old works have employed fabrics. I used to paint on fabric; you will also see textile patterns. Some of my works even include paper quilling. I work on media such as stone, fabrics and fibre. I work on whatever medium I get. I learnt to experiment with media and to use them to convey some meaning through them in London.
Q: What do you love about art?
A: An artwork is the result of an artist’s conversation with it. When an artist communicates with his work or idea, it becomes a work of art. If there is no conversation or connection, it remains only a creation. The result of my communication with my work is what I love. Sometimes the result astonishes me and makes me ask: Have I created this?
Q: The art world is changing. How do you perceive this change?
A: Change is part of life and art takes life-long practice; after completing certain works you feel you don’t know anything. You need to keep searching for ideas and thoughts. Depending on your idea and thought you will experiment with new thoughts and media. It also depends upon what kind of time influences an artist. There are multiple aspects of life which teach us new things.
All artists want to do something new. That force drives artists, which is good. Art is both pain and pleasure.
Q: What motivated you to
establish Utsah Foundation?
A: My motive was to develop art, employing multiple approaches and strategies. For instance, we involve professional artists, teachers, and students using different media, to come together, work and experiment.
Q: What are the major
problems artists in Orissa face?
A: We have talent but support is absent. Art is not appreciated here. It may not be necessary that you purchase an art work; but one must learn how to appreciate a creation. Visit galleries and look at art for a while and try to understand what an artist wants to convey. I feel art appreciation should be a subject for students.
The lack of art critics is affecting Oriya artists; therefore, a work which may deserve to be sold for Rs20 lakh, ends up being sold for just Rs20,000. Art critics can help artists improve their work. You need to push an artist.
Q: How can the market for art in Orissa be shored up?
A: It is true that market for art is down. But good content will always be appreciated. And it is not just the government but also people who need to support artists.
