It has taken artist V. Hariraam 40 years to find a language he is sure of. The 68 year-old artist toyed with landscapes and then figuratives for a long time before he decided that it is in abstracts that allow him most apt expression. That his belief is correct shows in the 96 works currently on display at Renu George’s Gallery Time And Space. The artist is having a solo in Bengaluru after six years and even in Chennai, where he lives, he had a one-man show back in 2011.
“Stellar Memories” has canvases - of different sizes - rendered in various mediums, from 2012 onwards charting Hariraam’s recent journey towards the destination.
If it was rigid structures that occupied the canvas in his early abstractions, they became a little diffused from 2012 onwards. Lines broke and shapes merged to create a surreal world in this artistic period of Hariraam's life. Viscous colours rendered with rollers also create impact.
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In the last couple of years, fluidity has come to dominate his work. The artist skilfully brings it into the realm which is marked with influences of printmaking. Hariraam says he is a printmaker first and practises etching, intaglio and other techniques.
“That is why it is natural for my work to have that influence,” says the artist.
There are traces of an identifiable world, the trees, the river, mountains but in totality the viewer may not find references to his/her world. At times it appears we are looking at underwater life.
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“I have reached a stage in my life where I have control over the medium, I can do it fast and I can take it further,” says the artist who has battled depression and experienced dissatisfaction with his art making. His condition led him to quit painting for two years - 1996 and 1997. Once better, he decided to travel to the US where he visited MOMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago.
The observation of west’s engagement with abstraction enriched him. Back home, Hariraam was inspired by great abstractionists like S. H. Raza, Prabhakar Kolte, V. S. Gaitonde, N. S. Bendre and others. “But I still wanted to develop a language independent of any influences. In 2005, when I exhibited at Pundole, it was received extremely well. ”
In his artistic quest and personal struggles, the artist feels he lost out on a lot. A contemporary of Paramjit Singh, Arpita Singh, Nalini Malani, Ghulam Sheikh, Hariraam’s name didn't really become a popular one. But Hariraam has no regrets. He is elated to have found himself and is now preparing for shows in Delhi and Chennai.
The show is on at Gallery Time And Space, The Guild, 1st Floor, 55 Lavelle Road, till July 13