Journalism of Courage
Jeff Mistry likes to paint on a particular subject for a long time. Currently it is Nature
Nature thats the subject close to his heart. And it surely depicts in his paintings as well. I am interested in richness that I receive from nature and through my paintings I get the opportunity to attach the pictorial form in some way to the source from where it is derived. However,I try to take reality towards abstraction,without going away from it, says Jeff Mistry,who will be displaying his work at Indiaart Gallery,from January 21 to 27.
Having done several solo shows in various cities in India,Gujarat-born Mistry,was based in Mumbai for a long time and has shifted to Pune just a few years back. Mistry is also a fellow of Royal Society of Arts and Member of the Society of Typographic Designers. He studied art in London,and worked with various art agencies as an art director. He says,Since I was working with art agencies,I never lost touch with creativity.
Mistry particularly prefers painting in oil and watercolours. I had an inclination towards painting since the beginning but its only after retirement that I started painting regularly. Oil and watercolours are the medium of painting I am comfortable with, he adds.
On his pattern of experimenting with the same subject nature he explains,It so happens that I am very rarely satisfied with a painting thats why I have an inner compulsion to carry on with the subject. I always feel the definitive expression of my subject is in the future and so I end up doing a series of paintings on one subject. He feels that only a modest person can paint nature and the painter needs to look at the subject with an open mind to capture the subject in detail.
Mistry makes it clear that through his paintings he does not intend to make any statement. I am not painting for any great cause and I feel it is not necessary to paint for some issue. For me painting is a way to celebrate and pay respect to the world that we live in,not only as an observer but also as a part of life. Certainly for me a subject is more important than me, says the artist.
This is the first time,when Mistry is exhibiting his work in Pune. However,as far as art scene in the city is concerned,Mistry is not very happy with it. It is not as hot as Mumbai. We do not have a single place like Kala Ghoda. Here people just convert their flats into art galleries. On the professional gallery front,Pune still has to go a long way, he concludes.
(Jeff Mistrys creations will be on display at Indiaart Gallery,from January 21 to 27.)
