ANAND GOSWAMI
Born 5.5.1972 Damoh, Madhya Pradesh B.F.A. from Govt. Institute of Fine Art, Indore
SOLO SHOWS Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi-2004.-2011. Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi-2005. Gallery Joie, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi-2008. Ayya Art Gallery, Chennai 2008.-2011.
GROUP SHOWS Art Plaza, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 1991. Art Cosmos, Deolalikar Art Gallery, Indore 1992. Krati, Deolalikar Art Gallery, Indore 1992. Sharad Parve –Bharti Bhavan, Bhopal 1992. Deolaikar Art Gallery 1994. Deolaikar Art Gallery 1996. Dhundh, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi-2002. Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai 2003. Freedom in action, Habiart Gallery, Indian Habitat Centre 2004. Himachal State Meseum, Shimla 2004. Two man Show Habiart Gallery 2004. Panchtatav, Lalit Kala Academy 2004. Group Show Urasvati Art Gallery 2005. Art ensemble Doon School Old Boys Society 2006. Celebrating India, Travencore Art Gallery 2006. Twenty-Five, Gallery joie Lalit Kala Academy 2006. Emotive Connections, Gallery joie, Lalit Kala Academy 2006. Young Hearts of India, Bhuvneshwar 2007. Hues of Spring, Gallery Joie 2007. Timeless Expressions. The Experimental Art Gallery. India Habitat Center 2007. Rainbows in the Sun, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi 2007. Gymkhana Club, New Delhi 2007. Shri Dharani Art Gallery, New Delhi 2008. E-Paintings canvasindia ISH London. Saturday, July 5th 2008
CAMPS Artist Camp Gurgaon organized by Komal Anand 2005. Artist Camp Kasauli, organized by Komal Anand 2006. Artist Camp Gymkhana Club, New Delhi 2007.
COLLECTION ICICI Bank Mutual Fund Asia Head Office, Singapore. Digvijay Singh, Former C.M. Madhya Pradesh. Muffins, Janak Puri, New Delhi. Chairman, Petro & Chemical Reliance Uppal’s Orchid. Lalu Prasad Yadav (Minister of Railways, Govt. of India) Himachal State Museum, Shimla. Gymkhana Club New Delhi Many other private collections within India and abroad.
Anand Goswami is a man of dedication—an artist who listens to his inner voice, an artist equally at ease both in abstract and figurative paintings. His present series, which is based on Sakyamuni, the ascetic of the Sakya tribe, effectively combines both forms.
A good work of art is a medium of upliftment, of creating positive vibes, of realizing the higher self. To create a good work of art, an artist has to have a positive message to convey, should himself be aiming at realizing his higher self and has to produce a work of art after listening to his inner voice. These attributes are clearly essayed in Anand’s present series. Anand has been quite taken up by the philosophy of the Sakyamuni-- the preacher of the middle path of ahimsa, peace and renunciation, qualities which he has tried to portray. The process of painting which is an exceptional experience for him, and reflects the introspective and serious reflective mood of the artist, becomes an exceptional experience for the viewer also – “it blesseth him that gives and him that takes” as Shakespeare said. Anand has stated his deep feelings with remarkable ease as can be seen from the serenity that pervades his rendition of the Sakyamuni. The colors that he has used are also in tune with the feelings that he is depicting and the philosophy of his ideal. The greens and golds transport us into a stress free world of tranquility, simplicity, and well being. The best way to understand his painting is to sense their vibrations with our heart by tuning into the consciousness behind the works and to feel their effect on our consciousness. I would not be exaggerating if I say that his paintings have a healing touch.
Promilla Shankar I.A.S
Call of a lost saint…
As the apparent cloud of his simmering yellow, green, streaks of red, blue and black settle down in peaceful co-existence on his oil canvases, they seem to make way for a figure. A hazy and dusty figure, ephemeral of sorts –sometimes visible, sometime in hiding. The figure has faint quaint features. A worrying face it is, and yet serene. Its eyes appeal but the demeanour remains stoic.
This figure is Shakyamuni – a messenger of peace, born some 2500 years before the Buddha. Anand Goswami brings him alive in this body of works titled "Shakyamuni".
Many argue that the Buddha and Shakyamuni are the same. In fact, Shakayamuni is the reincarnation of the Buddha. But this artist of humble bearing, differs. He has been researching on him for a long time, to make the world know of his existence. "Buddha came much later from the muni. The Buddha came from Gaya and Shakyamuni from Sri Lanka. The remains of both were found at different ages and places. They have separate stone edicts (shilalekh). Even National Museum agrees with it and allots them separate sections. Swami Vivekananda spoke of him as a messenger of peace different from the Buddha in the World Parliament of Religion in Chicago in 1893…."
Anand has lot many such arguments to put forth to substantiate his point. And he cared little for criticism especially after Raza, with whom he shares his native place, Dammoh in M.P., saw these works and said, "This a great concept to work on. Keep it up." Even Maharanai of Indore, equated him to M.F. Hussain calling him mini Hussain of Indore. Anand shares his college with Hussain.
Born to paint
Anand was born to paint. Otherwise in Dammoh, the forest-infested tribal area which had nothing to do with art, loss of both parents in his cradle years, no one to rear him up as his own except an aging aunt and lack of financial security were enough to discourage an inclination for arts. But as the artist reached his pre-teen days, instead of picking up odd jobs to survive, he chose to draw murals for several nearby temples and paint hoardings. That was his first informal learning of art. With the meagre earnings from these, he managed to study and undertake a formal course in art too. And today he holds successful solo shows. A reclusive artist, Anand often doesn't see the sun for over a week. He just paints and paints in his studio in West Delhi. Interestingly, Anand's journey began from abstract and is slowly moving towards figure. It has much to do with his training at Indore school of art.
A trained astrologer and stain glass painter, Anand's earlier skills often reflect in lustrous shades that he bestows to the Divine messenger. His sole aim is to spread awareness about Shakyamuni, who, he says, never got his due. But he doesn't glorify him. The muni's face doesn't have a visual poetry. It just has the strength that a saint develops after living for decades in dense forests under the open sky, braving all dirt and dust.
Let's know a saint through a visual feast Anand bestows us with his love and lavish on the canvas.
RANA SIDDIQUI
I have been closely appreciating Anand Goswamis’s canvases for the last few years whereby I marvel at his smooth transition from a highly gifted and talented abstract artist to the fascinating exploration and rendition of the historical and mysterious Sakya Munni , the predecessor of the Buddha.
Anand Goswamis ‘s art reflects his personal quest and religion – an ongoing discipline immersed in divinity which gives him immense satisfaction. His love for art surfaced in childhood when he painted murals in nearby temples. Greatly inspired by mythology he often painted Lord Shiva and scenes from the Ramayana.
He then went on to study at Indore School of Art where he honed his passion into academia and immersed his creative sensibilities into paintings.
The inspiration for all his art is “spirituality and worship of the divine”. Being ritualistic himself he transfers all the symbols , forms and colours of Hindu “poojas” into his abstract canvases. Anand who mainly works with oil as a medium very deftly blends his religious ethos onto his art with generous hues of yellows , reds and greens which he considers auspicious and mandatory in all Hindu rituals. His colours though effectively vibrant are never meant to jar but merge effortlessly with one another.
Anand’s journey of life continues with his works from his Mumbai show and then his show at Lalit Kala Akademi being well received by art lovers …………..but naturally the quest for change remains.
His new body of works comprise the culmination of a long spiritual journey where he finds solace in his depiction of the “ Sakya Munni” , the historical predecesor of the Buddha. A fascinating and mysterious form , the Sakya Munni can be seen in several of Anand ‘s canvases enveloped by a shroud of mystery . Anand ‘s very original treatment of the theme highlights the visual mastery of the formless and the form in the same painting. He is draped behind a veil of intensity and fervour which grips the viewer immediately. The mystery of life is hidden by this veil of struggle. The formless frenzy in his strokes which intertwine the form highlight the intensity of turmoil.
A closer look exposes the artists preoccupation with colour and rituals in the Sakya Munni series. The smooth golden tones , the turmeric yellows, saffron reds and greens interspersed with each other highlight the formless Munni and make him appear as an entity to reckon with . The area around the forms play with the vibrancy of colours and demonstrate Anand ‘s skills in texturing of the oil paints.
“For me my works are not just for the sake of art but it is the joy of creation which I cherish the most” says Anand .He most definitely lives by this motto.
Though abstraction remains close to his heart Anand Goswami finds peace at last with his Sakya Munni series. His works almost certainly have the blessings of the divine !
Ashwini Pai Bahadur Art Consultant [email protected]
