THE PAINTER OF VIBRANT HUES DEPARTS
Goa-born artist Laxman Pai passed away leaving behind a body of work that is as diverse and colourful as life itself.
Known for his vivacious colours, his positive attitude toward the human race but an ultimate love for nature, artist Laxman Pai (1926-2021) breathed his last at his home in Dona Paula, Goa at the grand age of 95 years old on the night of March 16, 2021. His son and family have been informed as his mortal remains were shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, Goa. The art community awaits the announcement of his funeral.
Paibegan his artistic career at the Sir J J School of Art and later secured a position at the Ecole Des Baux Arts in Paris. Pai moved to Paris in 1951 and lived there for almost a decade, till 1961. Like many of the Indian art fraternity who came to Paris, Pai was assisted by the helpful S H Raza in finding a good studio cum residence, and it is said that Raza even helped Pai set up his first exhibition.
Pai was influenced at the time by Mark Chagall, Paul Klee and Joan Miro. Although it is evident from his works that he carved out his own style and niche in the art community. Pai’s works illustrate an eclectic intermingling of the traditional and the modern. Bright exuberant colours, the structural use of line, and diagrammatic figuration are key aspects of his style. His works demonstrate his exploration of the stylistics of Indian folk art. Apart from his visual references, Pai’s experimentation with partial abstraction was also enabled through his forays into Indian classical music.
Although Pai is well known among the art community he has not given that many interviews as his colleagues, Raza and F N Souza. However, Jugneeta Sudan for literary journal Joao Roque in 2019 did conduct an important interview with the artist. Here is an excerpt: “During my ten year stay in France (1951-61), I visited and minutely observed the exhibits in Musee du Louvre, Musee Rodin, Musee d’Orsay and other Paris museums and art galleries. I absorbed the elements I needed, digested and released them as my own through my paintings and drawings,” Pai has reportedly said in the interview with Sudan.
“However, themes in my artworks were my memory recollections of Goan subjects, Jaidev’s ‘Geet Govind’, the Ramayaan series and life of Mahatma Gandhi…My entire body of work created in Paris got sold in exhibitions held there. FN Souza, Bakre, Alkazi and Raza were instrumental in supporting and finding venues for my exhibitions,” added the artist.
Pai has been awarded several honours –– such as the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Nehru Award and Lalit Kala Akademi Award –– for his artistic endeavors. Pai had also been part of the Goa liberation movement and had been imprisoned for his role in the Satyagraha movement during the Indian freedom struggle. He also taught at his alumina the Sir J J School of Art and at the Goa College of Art. During his stay in Mumbai, Pai participated in the activities of the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group, comprising fellow Goan artists F N Souza, Raza, M F Husain, Tyeb Mehta and K H Ara.
“We, at DAG, were privileged to work with Laxman Pai for his exhibition, ‘Pai in Paris’, consisting of his most seminal work done over the 10-year period that he spent in France. The range of his work, from his early oils to his lyrical drawings to his later expressionistic paintings are a mark of a constantly evolving artist,” says Ashish Anand.
The artist has exhibited his works at Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) several times and they have a fairly sizable collection of his works. Most of Laxman Pai’s art is characterised by vigorous graphic impressions of simple themes as his visual response to celebrating life’s experiences.
“During the 70′ and early 80’s Goa college of Art was operating from a rented building very close to Miramar beach in Panjim. Laxman Pai was our dean and had his studio in the same building two floors above the classrooms. He would invite students for a private viewing of his paintings whenever he had a body of work,” says artist Baiju Parthan who was taught by Pai at the Goa College of Art in the late 70’s and early ‘80s.
“I actually picked up the fundamentals of color theory from the detailed descriptions he would give, of why he used a particular color or texture in a painting, or how to make a particular color speak using an adjacent color or tone etc. I still remember those sessions as one of the most memorable moments from my visual arts student life,” says Parthan.
“Pai leaves behind this rich diversity to enchant viewers as his legacy of a long life spent in the creation of art,” adds Anand.
Indeed, one is looking forward to seeing more of his work and surely there would be a tribute exhibition to celebrate his contribution to the Indian art scape.
Text by Georgina Maddox
Images: Courtesy Delhi Art Gallery and Art Writers Group
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