Splash riot

Artist Niladri Paul is inspired by Jackson Pollocks action art
I first came across the works of American artist Jackson Pollock in 2004 at an artists get-together in Delhi where they screened a film called Life of Jackson Pollock. Pollock is one of the proponents of action art,which is a style of abstract painting that uses techniques such as dribbling or splashing of paint to achieve a spontaneous effect. Usually,in action art,the canvas is the arena in which the artist acts. The film showed him working on a canvassplashing liquid colour with his hands,fingers and even cardboard that resulted in strong strokes.

He didnt have a layout in his mind,there was no formation,and the artist was filling the canvas sometimes with his brush,or making thick strokes with his finger. Very often,he would fasten large canvases to the floor of his studio,and then fling or spill the regular house paint on them. His paintings such as Night Mist,Cathedral and Autumn Rhythm are celebrated works of action art,most often in muted colours. They may appear like an array of lines,dots and spots but they reach out to your unconscious. I relate to his works as I also follow action art in my abstract works.