"As a student, studying in the L. S. Raheja School of Art, the art of Printmaking fascinated me. It was an art that needed a lot of patience. Printmaking is one of the oldest, delicate and intricate processes of making artworks by printing normally on paper. Transferring ink from a matrix or through a prepared screen or a block creates prints. But it’s not just a photographic reproduction of a painting, it involves creating prints with an added element of the painter’s originality, be it colour or carved geometrical designs or any other element of art. Thus, each print is not considered a copy, it’s considered the artist's original, rather an impression or Impression as they say in Latin.
About the exhibition
While the majority of the class veered away from it, I was attracted to it for the exact same reason. The art is indeed challenging. And the complicated and intricate nature of the art allured me to take it up. Even after knowing that the slightest of error meant that I would have to scrap the entire project and start all over again never scared me. It’s easier to correct on paper or canvas, but in printmaking it’s all permanent. Hence, before starting a print painting I have to not only visualize my final work of art but also have to visualize the stages through which it will go. My judgment needs to be precise for the painting to be perfect.
I have been doing this art work for almost 10 years now and I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the process. Every time I have started painting something different I have ended up being richer in experience than I was before. And here I am sharing my experience. Trying to spread some awareness about this beautiful age old art. Trying to put forth the impressions (Impressions) in my mind on paper and presenting it so that everyone in turn can create their own impressions, hopefully long lasting ones."
Tapan Madkikar
"Creativity carves its own path... Art like Mathematics is a universal language
About the exhibition
Las Impressiones the Latin word for impressions....... A tray of gems, a galaxy of stars, a rainbow of folded colours, the eternal climb, and pile over pile, a shelf of books....
This I was certain of that since I as impressed there had to bean impression of it with freedom and ease of workmanship. So I set out in a style to capture moods, emotions, visions and thoughts as though one had just a mere glimpse of it.
I used bold, vibrant colours and geometric forms to simplify the process. The choice of large canvases was intentional to communicate the infinite expanse of space and thought. Once this was decided the canvas was coated with a thin layer of grainy texture to enhance the mood of the paintings. Layer over layer is the basic process...and a lot of dry brushwork has been used to get in tonal effects and deep contrast. Most of the paintings have a large area with a single bold colour and the rest of the canvas has colours playing with themselves. I have used small thing lines and a delicate flower around the canvas to signify the everything in life is still interconnected though independent. A paradox of sorts.... This visual drama has been done intentionally leaving room for the viewer to also visualize his experiences through the play of forms. Hoping that the viewer has enjoyed this visual experience as much as I have enjoyed working on it. "
Kuneesha Mirzan