PARESH MAITY
Paresh Maity is someone who is against imposed art, and has completed over 40 years in the industry with his numerous drawings, paintings, sculptures, and installations. This Delhi-based artist’s vast oeuvre includes India’s longest painting at 850 feet, titled Indian Odyssey. Talking about his creative process, Maity says, “My creative processes focusses on creating a piece of art that is on-going 24 hours a day and which can be showcased at any time of my life. It does not need a specific mood or movement.”
His paintings are all about nature. “My inspiration comes from nature, which includes people, colour, light form and my own imagination. My line of work is versatile. It varies from paintings to elephant (sculptures) to colourful, quirky trunks (paintings), etc. As Aristotle said, ‘all art is not but imitation of nature’,” says the artist.
Talking about the changing themes in art, he says, “My art is changing very spontaneously without making any special efforts. I have had a four decade long career. In my 40th year, I can see the art world evolving in India very fast. And Indian artists capture it well. The art scene here is very vibrant, dynamic and colourful. Moreover, it is taking on the global platform. Looking at artisans, making an Idol for various festivals influenced my childhood in a big way.” On what made him fall in love with art, he says, “Indian folk and tribal art style influences my art. My creative process is not just observation from life and nature, it is a deep philosophical observation from rooted filling which goes back to my childhood. Also, any medium — oil, sculptures, acrylic or watercolour, is my preferred medium. It depends with the mood and time.”