Best Experience !

To experience a living is to live an experience.

There have been minutes of jubilation, hours of toil, weeks of reminiscence & years of understanding in my life like any other individual. They all have been my companion till date and will continue to guide me in the years to come. School, College, Office – every workplace gives life a new meaning. Every experience gives one, sometimes the chance to move on, or a lesson to ponder over. I have been lucky to be a part of the corporate world for the past 2 years – however – my best experience lies in a field of my interest / hobby. I have been a learner of Art, Painting and Designing since childhood. After completing my Senior Diploma in Painting & Designing during school, I continued it as a passion for the rest of my life.

Experimentation & Experience

St. Stephen’s College – undoubtedly one of the best institutes in the nation – provided me the opportunity to head the prestigious “Fine Arts Society”. My best experience is an interaction session with the most renowned artists in the country – who interacted with our group on a personal note – and – judged our work. Gallery for Modern Art, New Delhi hosted a 5 day workshop for aspiring artists, in association with the best painters, cartoonists & artists in India. Around 30 participants and 10-12 dignitaries from the country visited the sessions.
I was fortunate to be a part of this group, in which over a span of 5 days, one learnt about various upcoming art forms, techniques, invasion of technology into art & much more. Whatever art I had learnt or developed in the 12 years of my learning, got its fine touches during these days.
Experimentation was one of the key ingredients of the program. It was important to see the difference between a Picasso & a Hussain, but it was equally important to understand that uniqueness lies not in the one who is appreciating the art but in the one who makes it. Even Hussain can choose to make a Picasso, but he chooses to make ‘Gajagamini’!!
Experimentation gives one the opportunity to be unique! Only uniqueness separates one from the crowd. This lesson which speaks volumes in real life!

Critique & Conversations

It is difficult to paint white on black but the one who knows that – puts the least unwanted layers on his canvas. Finding an analogy in life for this is not difficult! Sessions with M F Hussain gave me this learning of a lifetime – once you know the art of getting over the dark phases of your life, you will always stay in sunshine! Barefoot, Linen Jacket & White Beard – every stroke he paints today sells for millions and creates an equal number of headlines! The beauty in his paints unfortunately lies in their uniqueness – although he confesses he doesn’t aim at that. But being ordinary is suicidal in his profession – and – he taught us that! That all my sunflowers had a Fibonacci number of petals & all my horses were black – was noticed. But what was also noticed that there was too much detail and my quest started from being different but ended in being a perfectionist! I had spoilt the canvas! It is important in life to be one of the two – Different or Perfectionist! Most of us do the mistake of doing the third – Being a Different Perfectionist – and then, we spoil the canvas!

Learning & Education

The sessions end with some cartoons of Sudhir Tailang of famous politicians - A smirk here and a clap there! One misses the essence of the exhibition – to find humour in the ordinary is a craft and not an art! To live it daily is living happily ever after! Everyone gets a certificate of participation! People describe the event as enlightening and an opportunity to learn new forms of art. There are instances of mistakes being pointed out – instances of accolades being conferred upon – instances of combined awe and despair! Learning something new was not my intention! We get opportunities daily to do the same – we fail to recognize them! Best experience of understanding to do one thing – doing it right – and – being happy about it!