Sunday, February 6, 2000		Article

Art & artist
"I want to withdraw from mediocrity"

JATIN DAS is one of India’s foremost contemporary artists. He hails from Orissa and has studied art in Mumbai’s J. J. School of Arts. He got instant recognition with his oil-on-canvas series of nudes or "bare forms" in the 60s and 70s. Though he has done a number of landscapes, his critics comment only on his preoccupation with the human body. Criticism has, however, not deterred him from treading on his own path.

Jatin is best known for his exhibitions like "Women of Clay" which was inspired by Kalidas’ concept of women and femininity. He now describes his work as "more spiritual, more contemplative."

His interests are varied. His culinary skills are well known, as is his love for writing poetry. He has also been an arts and books collector. Another of his passion for last 20 years has been the collection of hand-held fans from all over the globe. To preserve his collection, he has set up Pankha, an art foundations. He is soon going to hold an exhibition of his fans. The actress, Nandita Das, is his daughter.

Belu Maheshwari met him recently at his Asiad Village home for an exclusive interview. Excerpts:

You have lately said that you are agitated. Any specific reason for your agitation?

What are the issues which bother you?

No one seems to want to do a good job in India. Outside my house there is a patch of open space which is looked after by a government gardener. He does nothing. It has become a garbage dumping ground. I am willing to have an art school student as apprentice, teach him and pay him. But no one is willing to learn. They don’t want to do hard work. Everyone wants short cuts to earn money and name.

Indians have become the most practical, materialistic and manipulative people. The western world is searching for spirituality, we are running away from it.

We all talk of the ills affecting the country but do you have some remedies?

We need proper, genuine education which is rooted in our country’s ethos, culture. Today, our education does not teach an art student to hold a brush properly. Similarly, a medial student is not taught to be a caring doctor. Everything you learn in professional institutions has to be unlearnt to become a professional.

Why have you diverted your energies away from painting to other fields?

I have really slogged all my life. When I was in my 20s, I devoted myself totally to work. There was a passion for work-- a romantic attitude. I am not saying romanticism is bad, it carries you through. But in the course of life, your other sensibilities also get developed. Garbage in neighbourhood distresses you, the crass materialism alos hurts you. I must be the only artist of prominence who does not own his own flat in Delhi. The others have more than one.

I am not in the business of art. I live on the sale of my paintings but I do not paint to sell. So I paint when I feel the urge. These everyday issues divert your attention. I am not desensitised and can go ahead with my life when some innocent is shot dead or soldiers are dying in Kargil.

Who can solve matters? Do you feel that democracy has failed?

What democracy are we talking about? Holding elections in which thousands of crores are spent is not democracy. Do we understand what it entails? Do we have good people running the country? Politicians have made a mess. Let the President run the country. Let good people come and renew their faith in issues raised by Gandhiji. Let us bring back the ethos, the fervor of the freedom struggle. We have but a few good individulas in politics. They are just a handful. What can they do? Let us all rededicate ourselves to building the country.

What have you envisaged for yourself in the future?

I want to withdraw from mediocrity. I do not like to be a chief guest not at any function. Everything is a farce. I want to live peacefully in the hills. I am writing my memories. I will be bringing out my book of poems. I want to do sculpture, design things, spend time in the garden. I love cooking but have not cooked for two years. Now my friends have no time to savour my cooking. I am not looking for tangible material gains at the moment. I have too much on my hands.