An artist can show things that other people are terrified of expressing, said Louise Bourgeois, a French-American sculptor and installation artist. What Bourgeois said holds a deeper meaning in this age where pictures can be clicked instantly, or created with the help of apps and filters. However, nothing can beat the experience of watching an artist’s expression and thoughts come alive on the canvas. Often the artworks symbolise the journey of the artist – real and metaphorical.
We chat with Surabhi Gulwelkar, who has put together 24 artworks which depict the life she led as a student at Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai and in Florence, Italy where she went on a scholarship. Gulwelkar’s solo exhibition is currently underway at Art2Day gallery, Bhandarkar Road, till June 30.
Early leanings
Gulwelkar, who has been passionate about art since her childhood, decided to pursue it as her career after scoring 93 per cent in her SSC exams. “It is very rare for someone who achieves good marks in SSC to opt for the Arts stream as a career option. But my parents gave me that liberty and helped me throughout. After SSC, I completed my Fine Arts Diploma and Bachelors with Distinction. Later I completed my Masters in Fine Arts from Mumbai University in 2017,” says Gulwelkar, who is a lecturer at Dr D Y Patil College of Applied Arts & Crafts, Akurdi.
While she was studying at JJ School of Arts in Mumbai, Gulwelkar did many outdoor paintings. “JJ has a huge and scenic campus. I went for a lot of outdoor paintings there. Then, I got scholarship of Florence Academy of Arts in Italy. I was the only artist to receive this scholarship. The buildings of JJ School and the Fort area are wonderful examples of neo Gothic style of architecture. In Europe, I noticed this common thread between my life at JJ and in Italy,” she says.
The art and the technique
Gulwelkar often paints on what she feels from within and never sticks to any specific subjects or themes. Talking about how art is perceived in India and Italy, the artist says, “In India, people focus more on the concept or thought process of the artist rather than the technical aspects. But in Italy, I realised that the focus is more on the techniques like the types of canvas used, painting material, durability of paintings and so on. In my artworks, I have tried to achieve that ‘golden mean’ of both the perspectives in my artwork.”
Gulwekar’s bio describes her work as the one that advocates realism rather than absolute imitation. When asked to elaborate on it, she says, “I seek freedom while painting. I try to capture the impressions of my vision. I prefer bold brush stokes, thick oil paints rather than photo realism. When I see an object, I observe it and paint it in my own way, without removing its identity. It’s not imitation. I just take creative liberty.”
The exhibition
The Pune artist, who was recently invited by Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi for an art camp at Lucknow Raj Bhavan, is excited to exhibit her works in the city.
Says she, “This is my second solo exhibition and I am very happy to be presenting my work in the city’s best art gallery. It is very special for me. I’m excited to find out what sort of response I will get.” Gulwelkar will be displaying some of the works that depict the life and times of Italy’s art and fashion capital and also the scenic surroundings at JJ School of Art.
Next, the artist is working on the depiction of the various regions in India. “I’m a travel bird. I want to travel to enrich my understanding about art,” she says. And, when it comes to advising her students and other budding artists, Gulwelkar says, “I always tell my students to gain in-depth knowledge about the fundamentals of art. I believe giant buildings can be built upon concrete base.”
She believes that passion is what creates the best of art. “I think art is for pleasure. It not only gives pleasure to the viewer but also to the artist. So every artist should enjoy the entire process of painting. If you are bothered by the surroundings, you can never really paint them. We should go with our inner voice and feel free while painting,” says Gulwelkar and concludes.
ST Reader Service
Surabhi Gulwelkar’s solo art exhibition is on at Art2Day gallery, Bhandarkar Road, till June 30. You can visit the exhibition between 11.30 am – 7 pm
