Poles apart, art brings Rodrigues and Singhvi together

One was admittedly born to dance, the other enjoys cooking.One was always creatively inclined, the other recently stoked a latent passion.

One found support for his creative pursuits, the other chose to climb the corporate ladder. So, what brings them together Art.And in art again artists Alex Rodrigues and Vikrant Singhvi are poles apart. While Rodrigues paints with his bare hands and mostly definitive art, Singhvi does faces, expressions and abstracts using any tool he can lay his bare hands on.

The theory of ‘opposites attract’ could not have held truer than in their case. They will be displaying their works in an exhibition called ‘Contrario’ from December 11-17 at Art Desh Studio in Walkeshwar. The Asian Age caught up with the artists ahead of their exhibition to know what to expect at the gallery.

Their journey

Rodrigues’ journey started as a child scribbling on walls, encouraged by his parents. Later, he channeled his creativity in the science diagrams at college. What sets Rodrigues apart is his technique of painting using only his fingers. He ditches even the quintessential brush to create beautiful paintings that include mosaics, religious art, figuratives, faces and landscapes.

Singhvi, on the other hand, always harboured the love for art but got down to learning it only three years ago. As a hardcore corporate man, he grabs whatever tools he finds (from his wife’s kitchen) and unleashes the creativity within. Crediting his wife and his art teacher for pushing him, Singhvi hopes to pursue art and cooking fulltime soon. “Art is coming to me as a passion only now. It is my unfulfilled desire that I’ve had since my school days,” says Singhvi, who holds a senior position with a finance company. Their technique

Calling himself ‘Fingerman’, Rodrigues elaborates on the technique that sets him apart. He uses only his fingers to create, with a large body of work ahead of him and a number of exhibitions, both in India and abroad.

“My first exhibition was in Goa, and I dedicated it to my dad. It was sold out and there was no looking back. Painting with fingers is a little difficult compared to the brush and takes more time, but it’s a better reaction, more appreciation,” says Rodrigues, who prefers to exhibit solo, but believes group exhibitions are a platform for better exposure.

While Rodrigues has no formal training in art, Singhvi has been diligently learning the tricks of the trade from his 20-year-old daughter’s teacher for the past three years. He started with paper and watercolours, eventually moving to canvas and paint.

“My wife pushed me to pursue painting. She and my teacher have been the biggest motivations. Alex told me art is subjective. He said don’t think something is good or bad. What’s not good in your eyes, may be great in somebody else’s. Art is in the eye of the critic.” Singhvi paints abstracts and his focus lies in faces, expressions and abstracts. Anxious over how his work would be accepted, Singhvi cannot stop thinking about the exhibition.

On artwork at Contrario

Having displayed his artwork across continents and various Indian cities, Rodrigues is a seasoned artist who chose to do display alongside newcomer Singhvi. In Contrario, Rodrigues will bring to the walls some Christian art, which is close to his heart as an artist and other new works. “For Contrario, I’m doing a series on wood. It’s ancient. For example, the Black Madonna of Spain, the Virgin which has a Russian orthodox feel, there’s one from the Byzantine era, one is a modern art but since it’s on wood it looks old and has a crown of paper mache to add an ornamental feel to it. There will be seven pieces of wood, planks that I painted. I will put up definitive work.”

Singhvi will exhibit a few Ganeshas, Buddhas, and paintings where faces and expressions are highlighted.

He admitted that he keeps every piece of painting or sketch “to remind me of how I have improved.” Singhvi’s abstract work are in stark contrast of Rodrigues’, as the former uses tools like brushes and pallete knives. With some sharp strokes and rich colours, his paintings come alive, leaving appreciation to the imagination of the admirer. On other pursuits

Calling himself a ‘born dancer’, Rodrigues stumped us with tidbits including his professional training in ballroom dancing and Latin American styles.

“Because I have had a very supportive family I have been able to do all things I wanted to. I’m more a dancer than an artist. I went on to teach dancing professionally on my own. I don’t advertise, as it’s passion and not work,” elaborated Rodrigues, who has also dabbled in the corporate world but quit to pursue art professionally. Thanks to a bad back due to lifting all and sundry, Rodrigues was introduced fitness and later trained to become a personal trainer. He juggles all of these passions with equal panache.

Apart from spending his weekends rioting with colours and tools on his canvas, Singhvi harbours the ambition of writing a cookbook.

“I love cooking. I particularly enjoy cooking North Indian food. I have to try a new recipe every two weeks and I get my friends to taste it and give me feedback. I love watching TV, and try to catch Bigg Boss every time I get a chance.” Even though painting is stress buster for Singhvi for now, he has decided to take it up full time.

“But only after both of my daughters are settled in their careers. I have decided to pursue art and cooking full time,” the responsible father says.

On the art scene in the world and India

Ruing the fact that galleries in India bank on big names, Rodrigues says that change must happen. “Abroad, artists have huge body work. The biggest difference between the art scene in India and abroad is that they don’t bank on big names. Here you walk into a gallery, tell the gallerist about having an exhibition or a meeting, they tell you to give your CD and leave. They say they’ll get back. You don’t get a conversation and don’t get back. It’s totally weird,” he says. Artist showing their work on streets, painting of city walls, beautifying works, are all part of art coming out into the open and being displayed.

“At the end of the day, as an artist you want your art to be appreciated.” He believes that bankability is a good thing where money is concerned. “But do something new, be open to changes. Artists are not afraid to try new things, so I think gallerists should not be afraid too.”

Singhvi, who hails from Jaipur, admits to not have visited art galleries or appreciated art as much as he’d like to. Given his busy schedule, he tries to dedicate any free time to hone his talent. “I surf the Internet for techniques and practise them. In my free time, I also love to write or just draw. I love miniature paintings that are done in Rajasthan. They have a lot of gold work, Radha Krishna, horses, war, hunting etc. Though I’ve not tried my hand at Rajasthani art, I appreciate it.” Singhvi is naturally anxious ahead of his first exhibition. Message to aspiring artists

In a parting note to aspiring artists, Rodrigues says, “Just keep doing what you’re doing, paint. If you don’t have the space to store your work, don’t frame them, just keep them as bare canvases of paper.”

“Don’t stop because a gallery doesn’t respond or because you don’t have the money to display.

“If you have a body of work at anytime, you could just have an exhibition anytime. But if you don’t have the work it makes no sense. It’s all about doing it more often. It shouldn’t curb that want to paint. Most artists work to inspiration. So if you’re really inspired, you should. You don’t know what you might come up with.”

“Whatever you, do it with your heart. Don’t think what others will think of your work, just do it,” signs off Singhvi.

Rodrigues on making art more accessible

Rodrigues on making art more accessible Displaying art at various places is a way to get an artist visibility. For example: A couple of years ago when I used to dance more, we organised Latin nights. We wanted to make it different so we had some Cuban art around, canvases of people dancing etc. The artist gets a chance of being visible and may even get enquiries for sales. The host of the show gets some beautification and the artist gets visibility.

Secondly, the Internet helps. People should search for art, do your own research, look around, walk the streets for art. You will find a lot of people who are really good, but can’t afford a gallery. Whenever I walk along the Gateway or outside the Jehangir, a lot of artists on the pavement because they can’t afford a gallery. Such amazing works, that they should be in a gallery.

Thirdly, I think people should get more into commissioning rather than picking works off the walls. Commissioned work is considered to be an expensive affair. At the end of the day, art is being appreciated and sold and the barrier is broken. I believe, commissioned or on the walls, it’s my art at the end of the day, why would I hike the price At a gallery it’s 20 per cent more because you’re paying the gallery rent. People need to approach artists directly as well, which will give them a better deal for their art.”