“I have an infatuation with natural beauty and I believe human beings cannot survive by abusing their natural surroundings.” This philosophy embodies the whole of Laxman Pai s work and life. His canvases are densely populated with nature in all her moods, and his human characters are always depicted in relation with their environment.
“Creative artist life is like a continuous flow of river from
its source absorbing and digesting all the influences on the way,” said Pai.
Laxman Pai, was recently conferred with the prestigious Padma
Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian award, adding yet recognition to
his glittering career.
He is recipient of three Lalit Kala national awards (1961, 1963
& 1972) and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Central
government in 1985. He was honoured by State government in 1987 and also
awarded the Nehru award in 1995. Pai was also the recipient of Goa’s highest
civilian award Gomant Vibhushan Award (2016). Laxman Pai was principal of
college of art in Goa from 1977-87. Born in Margao, Laxman was initially
heavily inspired by Goa’s beautiful landscapes and cultural richness. But
playing the sitar and bansuri himself, 92-year-old Pai interpreted music in
visual forms, creating one of his favourite painting series—’Musical Moods’ in
1965—inspired by Indian classical ragas. Choosing one raga from each that, he
would play one on the sitar at night and record it. The next day he would
attack the canvas with the same raga playing as background music.
The Padma awards official website pays tribute to his famous
‘Tree of Life’ painting, referring to him as a contemporary artist painter of
the Goan way of life.
Growing up in surroundings of surpassing beauty that fed his
artistic ambitions, Laxman Pai later studied in Mumbai, where he received his
art education in Sir J. J. School of Art and even won the prestigious Mayo
medal. His early years were spent in British India during the struggle for freedom
in which he played an active part. These formative years shaped his attitude
towards life and his work, leading to a highly individualistic and innovative
style. During his final year of studies at JJ School, in 1946, he decided to
join the Goa Liberation movement, offering Satyagraha outside the Margao police
station and getting arrested for it. He was later released as he was a minor.
Pai later went to Paris, the Mecca of art to complete his
education. Most of his work is based on chance encounters and experiences that
have left a mark on his mind be it good or evil. His earlier paintings borrowed
generously from ancient Egyptian sculptures with bodies that were portrayed
front on with the faces in profile. As time went on, the figures became more rounded
and well defined with a decreasing use of geometry. By the 60s, his style had
evolved into forms that flowed into each other on the canvas, giving them a
radiant vitality.
The vibrant hues that are so characteristic of his art got
bolder and brighter with each painting reminiscent of the miniatures of early
Indian art. According to him, “The bold and sensational colours set my
narrative into a pitch of intensity. The other things are also given colour and
significance by the degree to which they reflect and dramatise the theme in
tone and texture. I have used figurative drawings in a convincing manner in
their folk sensibility. The brush stokes are bold and cut across the contours
of the linear figures in a pivotal motion.”
A painter who does not like dull colours, Pai has created a body
of work that is as diverse and colourful as life itself.
He has more than one hundred solo exhibitions to his credit
including nine in Paris, where he worked for ten years (1951-61). His other
exhibitions have been held in London, Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen, New York, San
Francisco, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and
Goa. Laxman Pai also participated in Bribable San Paulo, Brazil.
In addition he has contributed a series of paintings by Jaidev’s
Gitagovinda (1954), Ramayana (1958 & 1971), Life of Mahatma Gandhi (1958),
Life of the Buddha (1959), Kalidasa’s Ritusamhara (1963), Indian Music Musical
Moods (1965), Kashmir Portraits (1965), Purush & Prakriti (1966), Dance
Forms (1967), Kangara Portraits (1972), Rajasthan (1982), Navraasa (1991),
Festival of Seasons (1993), Purush & Prakriti in kamasutra (1994),
Jeevanotsava (1995), Fantasies (1996), Kaama-Krodha-Moha-Moksha (1997-98),
Shrinagar faces (2000), Tree of Life (2001), Spring Flowers (2001), Human Forms
(2002), Female Forms (2003), Flowering Flowers (2004). He has executed two
murals for Patradevi memorial, Goa (1985).
His paintings are in various private & public collections,
including, Museum of Modern art – Paris, New York Public Library, Berlin
Museum, Ben & Abbey Grey Foundation (Los Angeles), National Gallery of
Modern Art – New Delhi, Punjab, Madras & Nagpur.
“The real forms of art are those which elevate you upward beyond
yourself,” adds Pai.
The
legendary artist who always receives a warm welcome at art exhibitions
throughout the country, including Goa, where he interacts with many of his
students, has seen a large number of well wishers congratulating him personally
since he was confered with the Padma Bushan