Piraji Sagara

I had the pleasure of being able to meet Piraji Sagara at his studio In Ahmedabad in 2002. I had never heard of him until I viewed his stone sculptures at the Sanskar Kendra, which is a museum located in the city of Ahmedabad (India). There was something very natural about his take on Indian life. His work reminded me of Indian life as it occurs and everyone takes for granted. The things that make India so intriguing to the open minded visitor.

He demeanor was a little standoffish as a foreigner with a familiar face entering his domain. He probably thought that I was a lost and confused cause who was there to purchase his work. It was refreshing to know that he cared about his creations over the sale of his work. Our meeting was very fruitful in the end and he opened up when when he realized that I was truly interested in his work and what it meant to me.

The studio is a series of buildings that is surrounded by a meandering path or almost courtyard. There were artisans scattered throughout the compound. There were rooms allocated for each type of work that he was doing or had done, stone, wood, painting, etc... It was inspiring and made me jealous.

His fame is just beginning to reach the rest of the world. His work is worth some research and if you are ever at a Modern Indian Art exhibit, look for his work.

Artist' Statement:

Painting is my inner need and not my compulsion.When not engaged in painting I read.My father disapproved of my interest in painting but my mother loved all that I did. She gave me money to buy material. I made juvenile pictures by spraying water. Hoardings fascinated me. I saw Hebber at work when I was at school.Even pioneer Raval was a distant glimpse for me. In consequence, I attempted sketching. I had fascination for enlarging printed portraits in periodicals. The habit has grown and even now I like to be surrounded by persons while sketch their figures. As a school boy I attended a camp at Mount Abu. Since then I am lured by mountains. I still retain my enthusiasm for the texture and the colors of hills and forests. Recently I have put on my sketchbook pen and pasted drawings of Abu landscape.I have intimately realized the living and the insentient universe around me.

Even as a child I love to walk. Now it takes two or three hours everyday. It offers me total freedom of loneliness. I talk with myself, have my dreams while walking, take delight in observing the world around. Walking in fact, is the best opportunity to know both self and the world around. I have every detail of the panorama stretching before my eyes when I walk. I have seen animals in seasons being tortured and twisted by powerful sex desires. All this makes inroads into my paintings with un-resisted forces.The theme of my paintings is the human face clouded with sorrow.Many of my paintings reveal my invisible ties with mankind. It is my only obsession.