Eat,Pray,Love

In Chandigarh for the recent Saarc Folk Festival,the soft-spoken artist makes a tour of museums,and is quite heartened to see her works from the ‘80s there. “Chandigarh is so refreshing whereas Delhi is like a pressure cooker. I wish Punjab would nurture its artists as they have the best museums in the country,best cities in terms of greenery,aesthetics. As for my work,I wish they’d take my recent ones for display,” Arpana’s more than willing to donate,a quality which is predominant in her – the ability to give,to love,unconditionally,just like her name which she chose herself. And after almost a week of trailing her,observing her every move,gesture and mannerism,no wonder her Babaji calls her Florence Nightingale! She’ll not let you leave till you’ve cleared your plate of veggies,she follows her mother like a shadow,making sure ‘mama’s’ had her food,medicine and good night’s sleep,and she even made time for her personal pilgrimage. If mother Ajeet Cour is a restless bundle of energy who holds the fort,shoots a volley of orders and takes upon new challenges,Arpana is the pillar that holds her,a cushion to fall back upon.

“Mum is an unstoppable force of nature whereas I like to stay in the backdrop. I’m not the kind to jump on stage and perform. I guess I’m more temperamentally suited to art,” she smiles,the roles have now reversed – “for 20 years now,I’m the ‘mother’,” she says. So who looks after you? “He does,” she looks up to Him,Guru Maharaj,the almighty. And just like a prayer,her canvas of life unfolds – days of struggle,the loss of a baby sister,rolling massive canvases and ferrying them all the way to Mumbai,waiting for payments,coping with ‘84 riots and its aftermath…life’s each moment,each episode finds its way into Arpana’s work. If the Nanak,Kabir and Buddha series reflect her spiritualism,her work on the Vrindavan widows,the ‘84 riots and depleting environment exposes her immensely sensitive,creative and intellectual nature. In between all this,is her love for murals,especially those on public walls and museums and the collection,documentation and registration of Sikh miniatures and folk art. “Interestingly,folk artists have now started venturing into contemporary themes like attack on the Twin Towers and the Parliament,terrorism et al,” Arpana catalogues the change at her museum in Delhi where the phone rings incessantly and a melee of artists walk in everyday. “Nobody’s ever documented folk art. These are our findings over last 30 years and it took us a year to compile and lovingly restore,” she opens the pages of ‘The Magic Maker’ and a book on Sikh miniatures. “Miniatures have a startling colour and element of surprise,and these days,they are like gold,solid investment,” she tips us.

Satish Gujral calls her ‘kainchi’,“for 20 years,I’ve been depicting time with a pair of scissors,” she shares a little secret. Another secret is her love to make murals. “I’m a painter,but when I get a chance,I love to do walls,” she’s done ten in a decade and not been paid for a single one! All set to do another one in Kathmandu,for which she’ll be paid for first time,Arpana feels painting a canvas is a solitary activity in the studio. “How many people visit private galleries? It’s elitist and still exclusive. I have a need to communicate with the common man,so it’s murals in museums and public places.”

The nineties were the golden era for Indian art. There were skyrocketing prices and massive investment,“95 per cent buy art for investment,not love…and so,I’m happy that recession has levelled it all out.” While the golden decade transformed art from this black sheep profession to one that’s paying,the recession has weeded out the commercialism. “With the recession only real collectors have left,investors have backed out,art dealers are floundering like rudderless boats and this has left me the happiest for no longer do they hound me or keeping ringing! There is no pressure,” now is time for some peace and quiet and reflection. “Art is about seeking inwards,and it’s a very long journey.” Budding artist,here’s something to brush on.