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DIGITAL
STROKES by Atiya Amjad
(Art critic and Curator,
Daira Gallery)
(THE HINDU 'Metro Plus' - September 2, 2002 Hyderabad)
Self taught-artist
Vijay Bhai Kochar expresses his innermost feelings through the virtual
medium. His computer images will be exhibited at Daira Centre for
Art and Culture.
THE SPIRIT of art is a constant factor in our existence. From the
dark recesses of ancient caves to plush galleries of our times,
it has always managed to make its space in and around us. A figment
of a child's imagination or a professional's sure strokes, the creative
faculty in humans can activate any time irrespective of the medium
applied. Therefore, one ought not to be surprised when the youth
of our times investigate art of the middle ages or a septuagenarian
employs a computer to create art. Practising art at the age of 71,
Vijay Bhai Kochar's is a case in point. His urge to express his
innermost feelings, in fact, reminds us of no less than Rabindranath
Tagore who took to painting in his 60s.
A retired professor from Central University of Hyderabad, Vijay
Bhai taught anthropology as a professional commitment. "I
joined Kalabhavan, Santiniketan in 1951, but after three months
shifted to Shiksha Bhavan due to family compulsions," he
says. His passion for the visual art is a childhood obsession. In
fact, he was encouraged to join Kalabhavan by artist Sudhir Khastagir.
While at Santiniketan from 1951 to 1957 first as student (of BA
and MA) and later as a teacher he was closely associated with the
Kalabhavan as a part-time student. "I worked under the renowned
artist Ramkinker Baij and did many paintings and sculptures around
that time," narrates Vijay Bhai. Therefore, after a hiatus
of 40-years, he dares to realise his dream to create. Says he: "I
lost touch with art after shifting to Anthropology/Sociology. I
researched and taught at five different universities including Johns
Hopkins University and the Howard University, U.S.A. Then finally
shifted to Hyderabad from Benaras Hindu University in 1980."
A self-taught artist who indulged in computers, he exercised graphics
related to art and design, once again on his own. Applying a virtual
medium to comprehend one's creative potentials, he intently studied
various tools and effects combating a multitude of problems and
seeking their solutions. "Towards the end of my professional
career, I became familiar with Dos and Winword-based programmes
for digital graphics. Between 1990 and 1994, I explored various
possibilities in MS Paint and WordArt software. After my retirement
in '94, I have concentrated solely to create simple compositions.
Now, I am working with a variety of software including Coral Photopaint
and Painter, Paint Shop Pro, Illustrator, Photoshop, etc."
Further sustained and serious effort to explore creative possibilities
of the digital medium was made by him during 1998 of which 70 works
will be exhibited during his first formal solo exhibition at Daira.
His view of his work is thus: "The originality and creativity
of expression are achievable on digital canvas. In some respects,
the digital medium is more flexible. There is a greater visual feel
of variations here. A variety of treatments and effects can be created
or altered much more easily on the digital canvas than on a physical
canvas." His exhibition between September 5 and 9, actually
relates a persistent spirit which comes forth as sincere commitment.
Those who are interested in viewing his works after the exhibition
can do so by taking an appointment (ph: +091-40-23319513).
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