A doyen of Goan art, Laxman Pai passed away over the weekend leaving scores of art lovers in shock. For many of them, he was a guide who helped them when he was the principle at the Goa College of Art between 1977-1987. His imagination and his sense of colour triggered the imagination of many artists who were fortunate to learn from him. Yolanda Sousa amongst Goa’s most prolific artists had much to say about Laxman Pai. She said he was a great human being who created art free of any hindrances. She said “He was a man without hate. He was a man without any negative emotion or energy. I had the privilege of being a student under him at the college for a year. He never lost his cool with anyone. He would say it with a hint of a smirk on his face but he would give the persona comfortable space to respond. Everyone was influenced by his art or his personality. It is a great loss. He was a great inspiration.” Francis D’souza who studied under him when the art school was located at Miramar said he had memories of interacting with Laxman Pai in the late sixties and seventies. He said “He was very important to Goa as an artist and a visionary. Some of his guiding principles were priceless. Certain things that he said we did not understand its importance. Later on in life, we would understand its importance. Once I went out for a walk and he asked me if I stepped out in search of inspiration. He said at my age I should be working like a labourer honing my skills. It was something that has stayed with me all my life. He said let the work speak for itself and you should not defend it. These are things I have never forgotten.” Speaking of the works he said the vibrancy of his colours was amazing. He was perhaps also the first painter in Goa for sure but in India too to use acrylic as a medium which was amazing for Goan artists. Suhas Shilker said he had the privilege of studying at the art college when Laxman was the principle. He said “I studied from 77-82 and he had returned from Paris and had taken over as the principal. He brought an international outlook to the college. He was a source of inspiration. He would give tips to students .Every month he would call students to his studio and show them his work and ask them for their views. His presence was very inspiring and motivating. He taught different techniques. He taught us how to appreciate art and music. He was very interested in classical music. He would play the sitar and the flute. I used to play the flute too and we would have some very good conversations. He will most certainly be missed.” Asked about his work he said the series on classical ragas was very interesting. His work on Purush and Prakruti, Suhas said was very interesting. Suhas said he stayed in Paris for ten years and did more than 50 one man shows but yet retained his connection to Indian culture. His development of colour with Indian philosophy and culture was fantastic. He said finally perhaps his greatest contribution was the confidence installed in the students to think for themselves and to stand up for themselves was his greatest contribution. He added he also felt it was important to paint in their own style and not imitate him.
Rajendra Usapkar who was also a student the college when he was a principle said he was very sad. He said the college gained a name because of him. He said “Laxman Sir was very hard working and he would work very long hours after college time. He was a very strong character and I believe the world of Goan art then needed somebody like him.” Meanwhile students and staff at the Goa College of Art expressed their sadness at his death. Mahendra Chodankar a teacher for the last thirty right years in the mural section said he had interacted with him closely. He said his creativity was unmistakable but he had all the other dimensions incorporating the old traditions in his paintings and especially the Gaon style. He said “Even though he studied under JJ school of arts which was under western management, he studied the Indian art classes. He was a great lover of Indian miniatures. Even during his stay in Paris, he exposed the Indian style to that world. He remained an Indian, he remained a Goan. He was totally dedicated, he had nothing but art. He knew what he was and what he liked. He remained true to himself.” A student at the college Uttara Angle said it was a great loss to the art world for Goa and for India. She said “He was fit and fine and he would have done great work. I liked his initial work of the birds and the eye of the birds, was inspirational. A lot of his compositions are interesting”. Sneha Wadkar another student said his works were very impressive, he was inspiration to her. His kunbi style work, she said was very inspirational for her as a muralist. Perhaps one could say the degree of confidence and the focus on the developing one’s own style or language was perhaps his greatest legacy. And every brush stroke was a signature of the man and the artist he was.
