Page 82 - Eye of the beholder

Another “Untitled” painting in the collection of the Sadhus’ has the representation of a tree morphed into an anthropomorphic image which also conveys a sense of an insect walking upright. The calibrated organic imagination of Pyne had no boundaries as he freewheeled into the world of nature and then created his own forms. In front of the hybrid human-insect tree is the representation of a skull headed figure with half open mouth and eyes that looks nowhere. His privileged blue colour paints darker mood in the background. The stiff static stylization of forms further reinforced the other worldly qualities. Yet the sharp precision of his engagement with tenebristic light resonates to Rembrandt’s subtly nuanced layers of tones which conveyed his spirituality, Pyne on the other hand manifests a deathly or a surreal ambience. Nevertheless there is a ray of hope of optimism in the blossomed flower depicted among the bunch of foliage on the tree.
It is surprising that Pyne’s images which initially are strikingly demonic translate gradually to arouse the sympathy of the viewer and ultimately empathize with the artist. The image grows on the viewer’s sensibility with the scrutiny of the dexterous artistic details particularly the minimal nuanced and subtle textures of the background. Artist who can intimately whisper with the viewer and hold a silent conversation undeniably remain an extraordinary genius. Ganesh Pyne was one and will remain for posterity.
SELECT REFERENCES
Gayatri Sinha [ed] “Indian Art an Overview” Rupa & Co. New Delhi 2003
'Ganesh Pyne in Conversation with Arany Banerjee', Lalit Kala Contemporary, April 1993 as reprinted in N. Tuli, The Flamed Mosaic: Indian Contemporary Painting, Ahmedabad, 1997 http://www.cimaartindia.com/artists.php?a=ganesh-pyne# https://www.christies.com/features/Artist-Guide-Ganesh-Pyne-10282-1.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesh_Pyne https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/mar/20/ganesh-pyne
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