Watch the clock, it’s Raza ticking away to glory

The five variants of the wall clocks are drawn from three of Raza’s original paintings: Shanti Bindu, signifying peace; Kaal Bindu, signifying Time; and Panch Bhoot, signifying the Five Elements. Interestingly, the inspiration goes beyond the geometrical similarity between the Bindu and the conventional clock, in the complex artistic vocabulary of the illustrious painter. “In these clocks is present the concept of time — past, present and future. It may seem contradictory because the clock is always moving ahead, but the movement of the arms would be impossible without the static dial. The Bindu has similar connotations for me,” he explains.

As for the concept and its introduction, it is the first of its kind in India. Rare works of art can now reach Indian walls, minus the formidable canvas. “The basic premise on which this concept is based is promotion of art. S H Raza was a natural choice because he is a stalwart of Contemporary Indian art. It’s a part of our synchrony series of watches which are designed for Indian drawing rooms as decorative items,” informs Srinivasan, All India Manager, Sales, Titan. The target group of buyers, is obviously “the elite class of Indian society, that would include art connoisseurs, CEO’s of companies and art lovers".

Perhaps a tad disappointing for the painter himself, for he sees this as the perfect opportunity to reach out to the country that still forms the core of his inspiration after spending 40 years of his life in France. Expressing this hope Raza says: “I was delighted at the prospect of reaching out to the common person through numerous offices, schools, factories and homes. My paintings are rare. When Titan approached me a few years ago, I was delighted. Bridging the gap between the common man and high art isn’t an impossible prosition, but it does require much thought.”

If his concept does reach the masses, Raza would become a part of everyday life with every tick of such a clock.