A chiselled tale

“The history of art has been constructed on the backs of the slaves who toiled day and night,bringing to life an imagined vision. It was cruel work. This collection depicts these workers breaking free from their crushing misery,” says Zanje. His latest exhibition – Textured Reality – will feature 20 sculptures of human figures,and 40 paintings. “These are not conventional paintings. I swathed canvas frames with black paint and then carved figures onto them. I never used a paint brush. When I looked around me at the maquettes I made,I noticed the play of shadows on them. It fascinated me how the dark patches would undulate,fall off and envelope these figures and lend them a mystery beyond just their form. That is what I have tried to capture in the paintings,” he says.

Hands roughened by tools since 1985,Zanje made his modest start from Maharashtra’s Usmanabad district. Following art school in Latur,a quest for higher art education brought him to Pune. The city surroundings have inspired his vision since then. The figures in this collection,made from sandstone and basalt,seem like shadows themselves,lurking in the corners of the world. Arms crossed and expressions faint and fading on the face,they have been chiseled to speak volumes without speaking a word. “I haven’t titled any of the figures. I don’t see the need for it. The theme is enlivened by all the figures together,” Zanje explains. The sculpting community in Pune is a miniscule one,but Zanje feels there is immense potential for growth. “We have collectively requested the government to provide us a ‘Kalagram’ of sorts,where all artists can gather and pursue their skill in peace. It can thrive into a hotbed of artistic activity and understanding,” he gushes.

Although art is eddying up on the career landscape,sculpting is still considered too physically demanding. But with mediums like fibreglass,metal and wood redefining this art form,growth potential is flickering brighter by the day. “Catch them young. I feel talent and possibility in art needs to be recognised and moulded very early. We need to have institutions that will encourage youngsters towards this strain of thought and expression,” says Zanje.

(The exhibition will be on display from August 2 to 8,at Gallery 2,Jehangir Art Gallery,Mumbai)