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Anecdotes from Events & Social Encounters
To start with, I must admit that the few and brief occasions I got to meet and interact with some true-blue art-world personalities and a few insightful individuals gave me such real inspiration through thier sincerely critical comment, appreciation and advice that there always lies a vein of tribute to them when I mean to complete a work. Here below are glimpses of some of my publicly social and some privte encounters that urge me to work towards an effective symbol of absolute, chaste liberalism.
A Real Classical Guru with Western Vein
Post Date: 26 Feb 2016
Initially this great icon was internally feeling uncomfortable and meant to be on safe side. But as a man of unmatched experience, and sincere dedication to and seasoned passion for genuine creativity and art he took no time in understanding the power with which I was emerging as a mysteriously graceful handler of the topic of more than explicit sexuality. The way people tried to endearingly shower words of appreciation on me changed his visible attitude towards me and he wanted to do me justice by mentoring me before we could depart from the venue of inauguration. And the flashes of his compensatory urge to mentor me effectfully in a few minutes may not be echoeing till today but they will go on as reflections from my works all trying to honour his heart-felt concern. This man was none other than awe-inspiring Shree Keshav Malik, the legendary, scholarly art-critic of India. It was in May 2006. My masterly, innocent dealing with as scandalous a topic as explicit female sex appeared so naive and angelic that he kept amusedly smiling at me all the time, trying to keep me close to himself in a fatherly fashion. This gave me reason to feel filial affinity with him; and refreshed affinity with and for pudenda and its holy relationship with divinity in art.
He may not have taught many or any in his lifetime. But with two sentences of his from year 2006 he deserves to be considered my lifelong mentor, even when he is no more to be seen in that flesh and bone.
These are the two sentences:
(The surface of) Some works are dry. Do something about them.
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An Embodiment of Humble, Prejudice-Free Gravity
Post Date: 27 Feb 2016
'You have successfully accomplished what I and many others like me kept thinking of doing but couldn'd do, didn't dare to do till now.'
the above statement came in a story of struggle and independent journey of an artist who advised me to not depend on words, presence or moral support of others in my absolutely unique journey. He narrated a long story of prejudices widespread in Indian art scene and advised me to keep myself independent of, not just free from, them. It was Shanti Dave Sahab at his New Delhi residence a day or two before my dual show titled 'My Un-rapable India' and 'Divine Sexuality' to be opening on 22 April 2009 at AIFACS, New Delhi. I had approached him to request him to condescend to be the chief guest in the inaugural function. I was affectionately and gracefully denied with genuine empathy with my situation. I was amaged and amused at the way he shed aside the size of his 'stature in art world' and so much friendly talked with me and gave advice. I am grateful to him.
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Authorised to Expect Your Rise
Post Date: 27 Feb 2016
'I am Auto-Authorised to Expect Your Rise to Great Heights of Holistic Glory'
This he didn't say. But then it would be a big instance of injustice towards him on my part if I say he didn't mean it. Each and every eye and ear present in the gallery at that moment (at AIFACS on 25 dec. 2007) witnessed the atmosphere of glory brought home by the like of a hard-working honest son when this gentleman (from Bagpat, U.P.) Shree Prem Prakash Premi (Formerly Lecturer in Art and Drawing. Bharatiya Vidya Mandir, K.G. Marg, New Delhi ) said the following words to this lost-in-his-busy-ness SON, i.e. me:
'बेटे सुनील,कुछ खाते-पीते नहीं हो !?! यह काम कैसे आगे बढ़ेगा?
Translation: Son Sunil, you do not eat and drink anything!?! How can you carry on this mission then?'
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Lets Be Chummy-Chummy, Honorably That is.
Post Date: 27 Feb 2016
Yes, These are Gill Brothers -- so effusively cordial that they literally hugged me. Shree R. S. Gill sahab was tireless in repeating that my works were pure poetry. When he visited a group show of three painters held about a month ago, in which I was a participant, in the comments register he mentioned that some works were poetry. I kept wondering if his allusion was to my works of art. But this time round it became fully clear. Gill Sahab, your cordial receiving of my works as divine poetry is more powerful than the poetry in my paintings. My mouth is not big enough to say 'Thank You' to you and get the accounts even. Affection is affection. It is an integral part of our family values of eternal classical India. I WILL preserve it.
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Clip From a Painting
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