Breaking free from tradition in search of a new visual idiom that speaks to us
Ahmedabad-based artist Mehul Rathod uses artificial leather as his primary medium and has over the years mastered the form of the portrait, with his reworkings of Van Gogh, Magritte and Picasso, among other canonical greats, writes Bhumika Popli.
ed artificial leather utilised with great originality. “I visualise each leather strip as a pixel and give the artwork that kind of appearance,” he said. “I cut thin strips of artificial leather and fix them meticulously on the canvas to create the images. My work is full of imagination and fantasy. I choose the artists who have achieved respect all over the world by their work. I represent the artists who were not necessarily beautiful in a conventional sense but displayed a charm in their personality and work which often attracted a large number of people.” ate the aforementioned painting.”
Rathod was born and brought up in Ahmedabad, and enjoys working there. A certain lack in terms of public awareness of art, as compared to other big cities, doesn’t cause inconvenience to the artist. He said, “There is little doubt in the fact that cities like Delhi and Mumbai provide a lot of opportunities to young artists to sell their works and even network in the fraternity, but I believe that for me a small town works better for the practice.”
He further added: “The infrastructure available here suffices my requirements as an artist. I have completed my studies in fine arts in this city. There are a few good centres here which provide a platform for young artists like me to exchange their ideas and experiment with new techniques. I detest crowds and noise when I am in the process of making an artwork, which you can’t avoid in metros like New Delhi or Mumbai. I have been to these cities but I don’t think I can work there due to the fast pace of life one is subjected to there.”
Like most young artists, Rathod too has faced difficulties in getting his work noticed, but he has never thought of giving up. He was also supported by his family who time and again boosted his confidence. “I always wanted to be an artist,” he said. “My father, who also paints during the spare time he gets after his job, understood my talent and encouraged me to pursue a career in art. When I graduated, I couldn’t fully grasp the way one can earn a living as an artist. I was not aware whom to approach to pitch the work and how to grow more in my chosen field. Despite all such challenges I never stopped making art and eventually the situation got better.”
“Traditional medium doesn’t interest me much. I like to create something different. Also, as Ahmedabad is rich in textiles, I easily get a lot of colourful artificial leather here.”