Madhvi Parekh's Paintings:
I have been looking at Madhvi Parekh's paintings for many years.Critics have written appreciatively about her works. Her painting is influenced by folk-art. Over the years, it has progressively evolved. One can discern in it influences of contemporary art. Madhvi Parekh has been inspired by modern artists from Paul Klee to Clemente. Out of this inspiration she has created her own world. After going through all the critical writing on her work, I wonder if I could add anything to it.When I encounter her work, , my response keeps changing. In her watercolours the use of transparent layers of lighter colours to create darker effects brings out pain in them. In her early oil paintings, the dots etc. remind us of children and adults going round and round, playing in circles. At times, that an entire family is riding a giant wheel. Seeing her latest works done in black, I feel as if men, women and children are out on a train ride. There is curiosity on their faces. With eyes wide open, they look at mountains, animals, birds and houses. The train moves on but the curiosity remains insatiate. It is present everywhere in her paintings. People enjoying diverse pleasures move about fearlessly in the jungle. They are not scared of the animals because the animals too move about like human beings. The train moves on passing through different stations. Three such panels have been joined together to form the 'Evening in Tungnath' series.
What is the criterion for assessing a painting? That it should delight the viewer. Only a work born out of immediate personal experience sounds true. Borrowed imagery cannot be internalised.
-Bhupen Khakhar.
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