Mural in Motion

‘A mural is not a one-man job,there are several inputs. It belongs to everyone,’ Krishen Khanna unravels the mystery of a mural

Painting a mural is so different from painting in a studio…one needs to create a unity between the horizontal and vertical,and can’t have a beginning or end,’’ Krishen Khanna,one of the most significant artists responsible for shaping the modern art movement in post-independence India,presented a lecture and slide show on the Making of a Mural. Simple,articulate,the painter had in fore not only his command over the medium of painting,but a touching genuineness about the emotions and feelings that make his works masterpieces. Here at the invitation of the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi,Khanna,whose works reflect a socio-political commitment,and an empathy towards the downtrodden and common people,described the fascinating process of designing a mural for ITC in Delhi,and how it was a unique experience,one that had its challenges,but own highs. “The civilization remains a constant entity,how do I pictorially portray India,I wanted the mural to depict the nine ras,but for that you have to enrich what you’re doing,and every emotion has to have its place with the inclusion of various elements,’’ Khanna shows how every ‘part’ of the mural was thought of and designed from not just the heart and head,but also with inputs of other artist friends,who added their own perspectives,talents and inputs to make it a ‘complete’ piece. Human beings,animals,birds…it aims to be a complete universe,and comprises so much of our life — vocations,people,religious places,mourning,funerals…it goes on,with Krishen introducing his friends too in the mural.

The fact that comes through is that it’s not painted from a single point of visual view,but many perspectives and what unites it all is that painting is cohesive. “Mural is a popular form of art and we have to devote energies to public art,not just think about individual quirks or look only inwards,but connect with others too. You have to be unique,but remember to share the warmth,energy and look at what unites us,” Krishen demonstrates through various slides how the mural is not a one-man job,but belongs to everyone. The small details,colour contrasts,elements of humanity,it’s an intricate process,one that “has to be seen and not heard.’’

With the Indian red being one of his favourites,Khanna displays some of his brilliant work,most of it figurative,with the barber,bandwallah,trucks all evoking the human situation and also moments in history,especially the Partition. “My studio is a universe in itself,’’ Krishen Khanna sums it poetically.