Documentary on Ambadas screened at JJ

A documentary film titled ‘The way I see – Celebrating Ambadas’ on Indian master artist Ambadas Khobragade was screened at Sir J J School of Art, Mumbai on the occasion of Teachers’ Day. Senior art critic, poet and writer Prayag Shukla spoke on art and shared memories of Ambadas in his address to a gathering of young art students and art lovers.

On the occasion of Teachers’ Day (5th September, 2023) a special screening of a documentary film on Indian master artist Ambadas Khobragade was organised at J J School of Art, Mumbai. In his address to the young art students, veteran art critic, poet and writer Prayag Shukla said that, “Every day, every 24 hours is a Teachers’ day for a teacher. It is a matter of happiness to know that Ambadas and such other legendary artists studied here at JJ.” He fondly remembered his interactions with giants of Indian modern art including Ambadas, M F Husain, S H Raza, F N Souza, Ganesh Pyne, Ramkumar, Jagdish Swaminathan and many others, during his early days in Delhi.

Ambadas Khobragade (1922-2012) is considered one of India’s finest masters of abstract art. Prayag Shukla shared some of his visionary thoughts about art and memories of artists Ambadas and Jagdish Swaminathan (Fondly known as Swami). A seasoned poet, Prayag Shukla rendered his gems of wisdom in a poetic style, saying “Art is in the thought. it changes life. Painting is the only form of art that one enjoys while standing, unlike most other art forms. Kala ko palkon se chhoote hei, aur prarthana bhaav se dekhte hein. (Art is to be touched only by our eyelids and to be seen with a prayer-like devotion.) Some people say, “I don’t understand abstract painting.” I ask them, “Do you understand a tree? Do you understand the sunset? No. You can only experience its beauty.” 

While reminiscing the insightful interactions with master artist Jagdish Swaminathan, Prayag Shukla narrated an answer given by Swaminathan to a question about art. The question was, what is the relationship of art and nature? Even though the question appears simple, it is a fundamental one. Swaminathan offered a seemingly simple yet profound answer. He said, if you imagine nature as a woman and art as a mirror, when the woman looks at the mirri, the mirror shows a different reflection of her than what she looks like. That’s what art does, it looks at nature in a creative way. Merely copying what you see in front of your eyes is not art, but to be able to see beyond what your eyes see, is.”

Prayag Shukla read out a paragraph from his book on Ambadas before he donated a copy of the book to the library of J J School of Art for the art students.

A documentary film titled ‘The way I see – Celebrating ambadas’ created by Dr Shruti Lakhanpal Tandon, Founder – Ushaarth Art Foundation in association with Dhoomimal Gallery and Prayag Shukla was screened on this occasion. The film portrayed Ambadas Khobragade as a pioneer abstract artist in India, documenting various developmental phases in his artistic journey. The life story of Ambadas unfurls through the personal memoirs of senior artists including the likes of Himmat Shah and Prabhakar Kolte, several artists who got inspired by him, his friends and family, and art historians and art critics including Prayag Shukla. 

Through a carefully woven arena of visual documentation of Ambadas’s works, personal quotes and memoirs, the documentary provides an authentic and inspiring material for an art lover, who knows little about Ambadas. It skillfully brings out the qualities of Ambadas as a human being, the struggles in his life, his creative pursuit and his contribution to art. This inspiring event was attended by art students, art teachers and art lovers.

Vineel Bhurke