THE ELEMENTS

THE SPACE

THE SILENCE

THE LIMITLESS

THE DARKNESS

THE INTUITION

WATER

THE ELEMENTS
EARTH - FIRE - WATER - AIR - SPACE/SILENCE

NONE OF THE LIFE COULD DEVELOP ON THIS PLANET, IF EVEN ONE OF THE ELEMENTS WAS MISSING.

The EARTH, FIRE, WATER, AIR and SPACE together make what we know as the world around us.

Throughout history, many people have pondered upon the basic elements to have an understanding of life. Man has always when awed by the force and potency of these elements; and have even worshiped these elements as gods.

In the scientific age, man has tried to explore and understand the very nature of these elements and their importance in our life.

It has also inspired many artists to create works of art. The American flute player Paul Horn, in his album 'INSIDE II' has given a good feeling of the elements.

For me the real search is not ‘what we see, feel and know directly’ but is beyond what we know, the UNKNOWN. The UNKNOWN is real mystery and challenge for me despite the fact that certain mysteries are UNKNOWABLE. (Read my thoughts on UKNOWN & the UNKNOWABLE)

Let me deal here what roles these elements have played in my work till now. Top

EARTH

As we know that every material object, living and inert we see on this planet comes from the earth and goes back.
(A short poem in this context)

I have borrowed clay, wood, stone and metal for work early work from the mother earth to express early passions, dreams and thoughts. But real magic came when used dark grey (almost black) slate with candle, when the dark slate became some thing else, a mysterious container that held the light within it. Top

FIRE

You need to experience the absolute darkness to understand the beauty of fire. One is not surprised when one realizes that most religious ceremonies are not considered complete there is fire present in one form or the other. Today, we light a candle to witness our special meals, to express our reverence to the sanctity of the place.

In 1983 a residency with British Gas provided me the opportunity of using fire as a material in my work, first in conjunction with sand and then with stone. That was followed by using candles set in chunks of dark slate, or floated on water and in other creative situations.

In 1990, during my visit to Sao Paulo, Brazil, I used 5000 candles in an installation in Parc Ibrapura, to express my concern for the half a million homeless children on the streets of Sao Paulo.

That was followed by my installations using slate and candles and the silence in a roofless Buildwas Abbey in Shropshire to create the magic. Top

WATER

Source of life, and essential to maintain life has also a force to destroy everything on its way, when flows uncontrolled.

Water’s inherent qualities – liquidity, transparency and reflective surface are just the known ones; for me real mystery is beyond the known when you look into is a deep well or deep lake. The serenity of its presence is something beyond words.

I have not had the chance to explore these mysteries except I have used it volume to float candles in 2 installations, one in St Louis and other one in Sao Paolo, Brazil. In these installations, what I experienced was the mystery of the deep water is combined with the darkness of the night. Floating lit candles created a sense of magic and contemplation. Top

AIR

Air is no doubt the most important element for sustaining life, I did not have the chance to contemplate on this element, though every morning summer or winter, I walk to the park across the road to feel the cold breeze on my body to regenerate my energy for the day. In my work, it has played a part only when I was making kinetic sculptures in aluminum. Hopefully I shall come back to this element later, when life gives me the time to contemplate on it. . Top

OTHER ELEMENTS

There are other elements are more abstract and as result not many people talk about them. For me these are as important as life giving elements. Let's say that five elements, most people are aware of, are important for creation and sustaining life on this planet, but other abstract elements are equally important in understanding life.

For the last few years, my work has been focused in exploring THE DARKNESS, THE SILENCE and THE LIMITLESS, using paper, photography and installations. Top

SPACE

Space is an element that is everywhere at the same time you can't describe it, you can't touch it nor you can say put a limit on it. It is all the qualities those are normally ascribed to God. Continue Top

DARKNESS

The importance of natural elements becomes more pronounced when one is growing up in village at a time without electricity.

“The darkness of the village night used to be so dense that one had to almost wade through it. In such still darkness small fires or light from earthenware lamps became magical. This unique experience is inconceivable in modern times, when skies are permanently lit by the light-pollution from towns and cities. Continue Top

ARTIST'S INTUITION

Artist faced the King and replied, “O King, I have used the same intuition to see events in the forest that I used to see the black beauty mark on your Queen's thigh.” Continue Top

THE LIMITLESS

Where the scientist¹s logic stops, the artist¹s intuition picks up

The scientists believe that universe was created with a 'Big Bang', but have no evidence to prove their statements, It is not only that can not find the answer to what created this 'Big Bang' but why this universe was created is a question beyond their imagination.

As an artist, I use my INTUITION to imagine to answer these questions. Continue Top