Brush With Bawa

Colour is not coincidental on Manjit Bawa's canvas. As if in keeping with the many-hued canvas of the artist, the opening of his exhibiti...

Colour is not coincidental on Manjit Bawa8217;s canvas. As if in keeping with the many-hued canvas of the artist, the opening of his exhibition 8212; called Bhav, Bhaav, Bhavya8217; 8212; at the Lalit Kala Galleries was almost as colourful. While critics and admirers examined the artist8217;s signature hues of reds and greens and yellows, Bawa spent his time catching up with friends. He had a lot of catching up to do, claiming as he did to have 8220;worked very hard8221; on this collection for two years.

Neighbour and producer Bobby Bedi who made an appearance with wife Varsha and friend and event manager by artists and their kin. B. C. Sanyal, Satish Gujral, Anjolie Ela Menon, Subrata Kundu and Bulbul Sharma, all praised Bawa8217;s work, and managed to kill two birds with one stone by also visiting the show of fellow artist, Manu Parekh at another Lalit Kala gallery. Anjali Sen, Director, National Gallery of Modern Art, also marked her presence at Bawa8217;s exhibition, which will be on till April 26.

Exhibiting after eight long years, Bawa is 8220;very, very happy8221; with the outcome. And this is no exaggeration, the artist cannot make up his mind when asked if he has a favourite painting. 8220;This is a favourite one, and so is this, and this one too8230;,8221; he says, darting across the room from one painting to another.

Luckily for all present, controversy did not rear its ugly head at the opening, even though many Sikhs strongly objected to the catalogue being sponsored by the cigarette giant, Benson amp; Hedges, and that too in the tercentenary year of the Khalsa. 8220;I don8217;t care what people say,8221; shrugs Bawa. 8220;We commit so many sins every day, we hurt others, we lie, we cheat, but no one seems to care about that. Why should such a hullabaloo be created over a minor sin like smoking?8221; he asks.

But that does not mean that he is standing up for smokers. 8220;Anyway, I had nothing to do with the sponsorship. The gallery organised it and it is their business,8221; he clarifies as an afterthought. 8220;I8217;m an artist and all I do well is paint,8221; he adds, with a mischievous twinkle. But that8217;s not the only thing he does well, you remind him, given his love for cooking, both food and controversies. 8220;I don8217;t seek controversies, but when I see something wrong happening, I can8217;t accept it wordlessly,8221; he argues. But after a tiring day of painting and standing up for various causes, it is cooking and Sufi music he turns to. But luckily for art lovers, art remains his first love.