Nestled on the fifth floor of LV Prasad Eye Institute, renowned artist Surya Prakash’s studio is a cosy little creative space. With canvases leaning against the walls, his painting brush, tools and books are arranged on the table. The 77-year-old artist is celebrating his art through a retrospective show titled ‘The Perceptive Eye, Surya Prakash Retrospective — 1960 onwards.’ Sponsored by Kalakriti Art Gallery, the show will be be held at National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru from July 28.
Although he maintains this is a ‘big show of my life’, Surya Prakash is unperturbed by the buzz around him. “During such occasions one tries to put together all that has happened in the last 55-60 years. Ninety nine pieces will be part of the display,” he shares and reveals this gallery in Bengaluru has been chosen because of the space it offers for this sort of retrospective. “Prshant (Prshant Lahoti of Kalakriti Art Gallery) showed me this gallery 10 months ago and that is why this happened. Otherwise, I never thought I would hold a retrospective; It was not in my mind at all,” he states and adds, “When the National Gallery began functioning, a few artists of my age have held their retrospectives. This gallery has gained importance for old people like us,” he laughs.
Display of graphics
Interestingly, last year a retrospective of his works - all prints - was held at Park Hyatt . At Bengaluru, the 99 exhibits will include 55 canvases and a few drawings, black and white works in small format and graphics in various medium. “I know nothing about graphics. Whenever I visited art workshops I took the help of people around me. I have not shown these works to anyone but now I use this opportunity to take them, for the first time, out of my studio,” he states.
Steady progress
The senior artist is neither overwhelmed nor critical of his earlier works. “These things have not suddenly happened so I am not like ‘Oh these are fantastic’ or ‘They are bad.’ It is a steady progress for me and nothing extraordinary,” he points out adding that retrospectives have a dual purpose. “One has put love, passion and work which has helped in creating this body of work. It is important that people who are familiar with my work will also see what I have done for my own satisfaction. For students, it will be a course on study,” he shares.
Seed of creation
As a routine, Surya Prakash is present in the studio from 10 am to 6 pm. “If my show is fixed for next year then I start planning about it. I like to come to the studio every day and be in that atmosphere or read a book. It is not that I am going to create everyday; the creation happens only a few times in one’s lifetime. This seed of creation grows slowly to create a body of work,” he points out and feels one cannot create everyday. “Work is an ongoing process. One starts learning more about the content but at some point there comes an end too. I don’t like to live in the past. I am going to think about tomorrow. I will know it when I feel I am repeating myself and then the search begins again.” In a span of 55 years, he has ‘searched five to six times.’
Future
Surya Prakash will also have a retrospective of his works in Hyderabad late next year. “It is being hosted by Mumbai-based India Fine Art Gallery which had presented Thota Vaikuntam’s retrospective. It will be at the end of 2018; there is still time for it.”
