From his love for painting to his admiration for Bollywood actor Govinda, artist Manu Parekh is oh-so-candid on his recent visit to the city
Etle interview sharoo?’ asks Manu Parekh as he sat surrounded by his paintings at an art gallery on Friday afternoon. That is when art connoisseur Anil Relia intervenes, “Sharoo, sharoo…emaa kaain naariyal phodvanu naa hoi!”
And Parekh, 78 – known for works influenced by Varanasi, burst into laughter at Relia’s retort. Born in Amdavad and now settled in Delhi, Parekh – who was awarded with a Padma Shri in 1991 – says, “For me Amdavad means Anil (Relia) and Amit (Ambalal). I often come down here just to meet them. Art brought us together and now we are great friends.” He has also made a painting on Amdavad, a city where he was born and spent 18 years of life before he moved to JJ School of Arts, Mumbai in 1962. “No city can have Uttarayan as vibrant as it is here in Amdavad,” he says. The painting comprises a huge kite with a picture of Lord Ganesha on it. “In Amdavad, kites are important, but so is Goddess Laxmi and so I drew a Ganesha (known for prosperity) on the kite!”
A glance at the paintings around and the first thing that strikes is a darker colour-scape. Parekh briefs us on his style as “I use a dark colour palette because only then can I highlight the lighter shades. Light and dark are both present, it all depends on what you choose to see. I guess, the same applies to life!”
Credit to Calcutta
He firmly believes it was living in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for 10 years that brought out the artist in him. And later, he felt his thirst for finding more meaning in life and work was quenched on a visit to Varanasi in 1980. He made a series of paintings on Benaras – one of his most well-known series of works. “I have visited that place more than 100 times because for me, it is more than just a place.”
And that brings in Relia again, sitting next to Parekh, informing us, “I should tell you this. Taarak Mehta was a very good friend of Manu.” This transports Parekh to his pre-artist period, when he dabbled in theatre. “While studying at JJ College, I featured in quite a few of Taarakbhai’s plays. I even did a play with Jaswant Thaker named ‘Mukhya Dhara’ where I was not just acting, but was also involved in designing the set. I never saw acting as a career, but yes, that theatre stint did influence my work a lot.
“Even today, I leave spaces in my painting signifying that someone is yet to come, and someone has just left this place…”
He loves Govinda!
Few know of Parekh’s love for Hindi films and actor Govinda. The veteran artist reveals that he watches movies essentially for entertainment. “I’m a great admirer of Govinda. He is so spontaneous, unadulterated and stands out from the rest. A common man can relate to him.”
‘Madhvi is better than me’
Parekh’s wife Madhvi, also a renowned painter, belongs to the rural area of Sanjaya, Gujarat. So, how is it living with an equally prolific partner under the same roof, we ask? Parekh laughs, “That is a scary question! Let me just reveal the good part.” Parekh adds, “It is a cliché that the going gets tough if couples are from the same profession. Madhvi won the National Award before I did, yet there is no competition between us because I believe she is better at the craft. We travel together, work together and I enjoy her company as I am not a man afraid to stay with a powerful woman.”
Talk of the one artist he admires, Parekh comes up with a totally unexpected name: “Steve Jobs. I admire his work a lot.” The artist loves Jobs’ gadgets, too. “Steve’s field was different, but his art is unparalleled,” he reveals, before turning to Manan (Relia) who ‘taught’ Parekh to operate his new phone. “You can’t bring your ego when you have to learn from the young,” he says, leaving all of them in splits.
How to keep grounded
“The moment you think you are a master, you lose it,” says Parekh on how he manages to keep feet firmly on the ground even after an oeuvre that boasts over 50 years of experience. “Over 500 landscapes later, when I sit in front of my 501st canvas, it makes me question, it makes me struggle and that keeps me going every single day.”
Is that even a question?
So, is there anything about art/painting he would want to change? “Sawaal j nathi ne! (That question doesn’t even arise). The field of painting is very exciting. There is no room for any dislike here,” he exclaims, before giving a piece of advice for the young: “Everyone has to find his own way and before that, find your self. Hard work, dedication, concentration and everything else will follow.”
On that artistic note, Parekh readies to interact with his audience at a bookstore, not before this parting shot: “Saaru thayu interview ni practice thai gai.”
Etle interview sharoo?’ asks Manu Parekh as he sat surrounded by his paintings at an art gallery on Friday afternoon. That is when art connoisseur Anil Relia intervenes, “Sharoo, sharoo…emaa kaain naariyal phodvanu naa hoi!”
And Parekh, 78 – known for works influenced by Varanasi, burst into laughter at Relia’s retort. Born in Amdavad and now settled in Delhi, Parekh – who was awarded with a Padma Shri in 1991 – says, “For me Amdavad means Anil (Relia) and Amit (Ambalal). I often come down here just to meet them. Art brought us together and now we are great friends.” He has also made a painting on Amdavad, a city where he was born and spent 18 years of life before he moved to JJ School of Arts, Mumbai in 1962. “No city can have Uttarayan as vibrant as it is here in Amdavad,” he says. The painting comprises a huge kite with a picture of Lord Ganesha on it. “In Amdavad, kites are important, but so is Goddess Laxmi and so I drew a Ganesha (known for prosperity) on the kite!”
A glance at the paintings around and the first thing that strikes is a darker colour-scape. Parekh briefs us on his style as “I use a dark colour palette because only then can I highlight the lighter shades. Light and dark are both present, it all depends on what you choose to see. I guess, the same applies to life!”
Credit to Calcutta
He firmly believes it was living in Calcutta (now Kolkata) for 10 years that brought out the artist in him. And later, he felt his thirst for finding more meaning in life and work was quenched on a visit to Varanasi in 1980. He made a series of paintings on Benaras – one of his most well-known series of works. “I have visited that place more than 100 times because for me, it is more than just a place.”
And that brings in Relia again, sitting next to Parekh, informing us, “I should tell you this. Taarak Mehta was a very good friend of Manu.” This transports Parekh to his pre-artist period, when he dabbled in theatre. “While studying at JJ College, I featured in quite a few of Taarakbhai’s plays. I even did a play with Jaswant Thaker named ‘Mukhya Dhara’ where I was not just acting, but was also involved in designing the set. I never saw acting as a career, but yes, that theatre stint did influence my work a lot.
“Even today, I leave spaces in my painting signifying that someone is yet to come, and someone has just left this place…”
He loves Govinda!
Few know of Parekh’s love for Hindi films and actor Govinda. The veteran artist reveals that he watches movies essentially for entertainment. “I’m a great admirer of Govinda. He is so spontaneous, unadulterated and stands out from the rest. A common man can relate to him.”
‘Madhvi is better than me’
Parekh’s wife Madhvi, also a renowned painter, belongs to the rural area of Sanjaya, Gujarat. So, how is it living with an equally prolific partner under the same roof, we ask? Parekh laughs, “That is a scary question! Let me just reveal the good part.” Parekh adds, “It is a cliché that the going gets tough if couples are from the same profession. Madhvi won the National Award before I did, yet there is no competition between us because I believe she is better at the craft. We travel together, work together and I enjoy her company as I am not a man afraid to stay with a powerful woman.”
Talk of the one artist he admires, Parekh comes up with a totally unexpected name: “Steve Jobs. I admire his work a lot.” The artist loves Jobs’ gadgets, too. “Steve’s field was different, but his art is unparalleled,” he reveals, before turning to Manan (Relia) who ‘taught’ Parekh to operate his new phone. “You can’t bring your ego when you have to learn from the young,” he says, leaving all of them in splits.
How to keep grounded
“The moment you think you are a master, you lose it,” says Parekh on how he manages to keep feet firmly on the ground even after an oeuvre that boasts over 50 years of experience. “Over 500 landscapes later, when I sit in front of my 501st canvas, it makes me question, it makes me struggle and that keeps me going every single day.”
Is that even a question?
So, is there anything about art/painting he would want to change? “Sawaal j nathi ne! (That question doesn’t even arise). The field of painting is very exciting. There is no room for any dislike here,” he exclaims, before giving a piece of advice for the young: “Everyone has to find his own way and before that, find your self. Hard work, dedication, concentration and everything else will follow.”
On that artistic note, Parekh readies to interact with his audience at a bookstore, not before this parting shot: “Saaru thayu interview ni practice thai gai.”
Interviewed by Janvi Sonaiya
