Stories Recreated by Dushyant Patel

• A very different kind of remote showing

Tomorrow (4) sees the unveiling of a rather special collection of art at the Barefoot Gallery Colombo – the work of Indian artist Dushyant Patel. 

A painter and a printmaker based out of Baroda, Dushyant Patel’s work stands as a testament to his command over material and strive for perfection. Drawing his subject matter from cultural anecdotes, tales, and his lived experiences, his visuals are developed with what is now his signature spin to these stories.

What makes Patel’s showcase interesting is that it is a new kind of virtual, for Patel is based in India and will not be in Sri Lanka for the setting up and opening of his exhibition. He has, however, sent his work to Colombo to be curated and displayed by the Barefoot Gallery. 

With his exhibition, Stories Recreated, opening to the public tomorrow, Brunch caught up with Dushyanth for a quick chat on his exhibition and what it feels like to be showing an exhibition in Sri Lanka remotely. 

What got you interested in art and how did you become an artist?

I must say the interest started very early in life. From copying the images of Gods and Goddesses as a child, and then while doing schooling, my art teacher introduced me to the well-known Bhanwar C. Pawar (they happened to be brothers), and after interacting with him and seeing his work in person, I was able to develop a real zeal for the field. After getting his advice I pursued my formal education in arts from C.N. College of Fine Arts and got my master’s from M.S. University, Baroda. These two colleges gave me so much strength, exposure, knowledge, and courage to become an artist.

Tell us about Stories Recreated. What is it about?

My inspiration for this series is based on the various environmental issues we’re facing, both locally and globally. I have tried to depict this through the birds and animals in my artwork which act here as metaphors.

Folk stories from my childhood also help me build the imagery within this series of works. This series of works are divided into two mediums/techniques, i.e. oil on canvas and watercolour on paper. I’ve been working on this series since 2019. 

Is this your first exhibition in Sri Lanka? What made you decide to show your work here? How did you send your work here? 

Yes, this is my first solo show in Sri Lanka with the Barefoot Gallery. I had once participated in a group show in Sri Lanka in 2019 where Dominic Sansoni had seen my works and acquired a few of them for his personal collection. 

After staying in touch for a while, and after various conversations and exchanges, he offered me a solo show at the Barefoot Gallery and I enthusiastically accepted. I sent in my work for the show via India Post, and the exhibition opens to the public and stays open till 20 March.  

What is your favourite thing about making art? And what is your favourite medium or technique? 

Art gives me incredible freedom of expression and boundless possibilities to explore my ideas and messages, which excites me a lot. I work with many mediums and each of my art pieces are mixed media pieces of art. My favourite mediums and techniques include oil on canvas, watercolours on paper, and various forms of printmaking.

As an international artist showing in Sri Lanka, what do you think about Sri Lanka as a country for regional artists to come and show their art?

First, it’s a great opportunity for me to showcase my works there in Sri Lanka, and I am very grateful for the chance to do so. Also, I see this as a great opportunity to understand the various exchanges of thoughts, insights, and interactions with the local communities in Sri Lanka and also how other artists in the region connect with my work. The history of Sri Lanka is very rich and diverse and so is their art. I personally feel that the future of the Sri Lankan art scene is very bright and organising these kinds of international artists’ exhibitions and exchanges would help in bridging the various gaps between the regional artists and international artists, art scenes, their socio-cultural practices, and various other thought processes.