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Journalism of Courage
In his two-storied haveli ringed around a courtyard, all corners8212;from the banyan tree in the garden to the study, from the terrace to the parking lot8212;turn into places of work for artist Satish Gupta. 8220;This studio is an extension of my own self. It has a number of open areas that help it breathe,8221; he says. And meditate, one might add.
Step into its world and you are gently drawn in by the whiff of old woodwork, the air resonating with Shiva chants and a stillness rarely found in Gurgaon. The name for the studio is apt8212;Zazen, the Zen mode of meditation. Next to the courtyard is the banyan, 8220;the oldest tree in this area8221;, where Gupta often works. A huge Buddha statue sits under the canopy. 8220;The rustling leaves and the calmness of the statue help me set the tone and pitch of my work,8221; he says.
The studio has a small living room but Gupta uses it sparingly. 8220;I don8217;t want the complexities of daily chores to take away from the tranquility of the studio,8221; he says. When in town, this globetrotter can8217;t stay away from his 8220;second home8221;. 8220;The serenity of my studio is a constant pull. It8217;s always on my mind whenever I am travelling.8221;
In some ways, the studio is a canvas that Gupta is always working on. He often brings in new furniture and artifacts from his travels. If nothing else, he keeps changing the arrangement of his rooms. 8220;Each addition gives me a sense of its never-ending growth. I don8217;t think I will ever be done with the interiors of my studio. The moment it finishes, it would mean death,8221; he says.
