Artist Talks : Guest Artist, Amit Kalla

Artists talks series, “Art from the heart”

With Guest Artist: Mr. Amit Kalla

Interview conducted with a very active artist, Mr.Amit Kalla. We also have his paintings in our Pranjal arts collection. He was interviewed by Pranjulaa Singh to know about his passions, his challenges, and his journey. This interview has covered his work ethic and the way he has been impacted.

About Art:

When we discuss art in Indian traditions, we divide it into three categories: one is our Indian tradition, also known as far eastern tradition, which encompasses Chinese, Japanese, and Korean art and aesthetics, and the second is a Western tradition, which refers to European culture. Our time is linear in eastern tradition, and anytime we talk about art and culture, our experiences with it are totally amazing. The history of art teaches us a lot about different types of paintings, old temples, and how essential it is to preserve and follow ancient art and aesthetics. Beautiful narratives are to be found in the temples in Gwalior and across Madhya Pradesh.

P.S. When was the first moment you realized you wanted to be an artist? And how did you decide to go to Jaipur from Delhi in order to study art and get into the art industry?

I used to love reading literature, poetry from the past, and novels. Mr. Mishra, an archaeologist, was a professor who used to lead us and urge us to visit various museums to learn about the city's art and history. Later, I decided to try something new, so I enrolled in Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, followed by an American institute of Indian studies. I continued to learn and explore the world during my adventure.Travelling has always been ongoing, and traveling helps artists to exemplify a goal.

P.S. How many art exhibits have you organized in a year, and how do you manage to keep everything in order despite the lockdown?

According to Pawan Gupta, my mentor, “Every art display is automatically accomplished when we work hard and follow the procedure of getting things done.” Mr. Prabhakar Kolte, one of my senior instructors and one of the most well-known abstract painters, often used to emphasise that we should believe in the process because when we believe in the process, we materialize our time and effort. It becomes a way of life, and we can effortlessly make beautiful paintings. Artists' lives are heavily influenced by their experiences.

P.S. As an artist, you organize and attend art exhibits. How do you manage to create great artworks along with all of the organizing?

In order to succeed as an artist in today's demanding environment, one must be able to multitask. You will not find any such critics who will work for you. A good artist must be multi-dimensional; he or she must read, write, listen to music, comprehend philosophy, be talented, show an interest in theatre, and live in sync with their surroundings. And, when tuning up your life, remember that art has the capacity to accomplish it all; it should not be done consciously, but rather in the flow of life.

P.S. What is the value of networking in your opinion, and how useful it is to the art world?

When we don't hesitate to obtain anything, things come readily to us. We connect with the people while we perform and organize art exhibitions and programs. Exhibits of Painting denote the depiction of a beautiful life, as well as a link between educating and listening to people and their ideas. As painters, we draw inspiration and receive recognition from other well-known artists all across the world.

P.S. Is your home base in Jaipur or Delhi, and how do you manage to travel constantly?

I traveled to many locations, went on adventures, and discovered new places all over the world. For an artist, the entire world is a home. I am now residing in the city of Jaipur. Jaipur is my home, and I have lived there since I was a youngster. I'd explore the entire world, but at the end of the day, I'd return to my hometown of Jaipur. It is a city for artists where one may learn a great deal. Jaipur is a beautiful city. Various parks are to be found around the area. Jaipur is a city full of stunning architectural masterpieces.

P.S. Does your artwork suffer as a result of your travels?

Yes, visiting new locations and traveling across the world have a significant effect on the paintings I produce. When we look at a dessert, it gives us a different impression than when we make an artwork out of it. When we painters look at the Himalayan mountains and try to paint them, we have a variety of views and thoughts. We have a strong bond with Mother Nature. When artists make their artworks, all of these scenes come to life in a creative way. It's the process of discovering the meaning of one's own self as one creates it. Art is a life-changing event that heals and transforms you.

P.S. When did you begin your career as a poet? You won a national prize for your poetry book. Tell us more about it?

Nothing occurred on purpose; everything happened in the flow. There was a point when I was fairly certain that I would underperform the Hindi subject because I was not much keen to learn about it, but as I met more and more brilliant mentors, I began to emerge in the field of literature as a Hindi poet. I am eternally grateful to all of my professors at all of the institutions where I studied because they pushed and inspired me to become the outstanding writer that I am today.

P.S. What message would you like to give to the future generation of artists?

When you are confronted with a difficulty, attempt to face it and conquer it. It would not make you an outstanding artist if there were no obstacles on your road. Art is a huge difficulty in general. Every artist's key to success is contemplation.

ABOUT THE  “ART FROM THE HEART” SERIES:

Pranjal Arts walks down memory lane, connecting with Indian artists across the world. Through these conversations, we share a perspective into their journey, for the pleasure of new artists, art collectors, and/or anyone interested in art. We discuss their struggles, learnings and observe the changes in their art practice. We love knowing the artists closely on the candid conversation at a time in the “Art from the Heart” Artist Talks series.

Watch out for the full interview of Amit Kalla. Do have a look at the below video.

About Mr. Amit Kalla:

Amit Kalla is a visual artist and a refined Hindi poet from Jaipur, India. His work in Poetry and Art both are spiritually intuited. He studied Art History at the National Museum Institute with a specialization in ancient Indian art (Iconography). He also has a Master’s degree in Art and Aesthetics from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

About Pranjal Arts:

Original, handmade, Indian folk and contemporary art, Pranjal Arts is a collection of 200 paintings made by 70 different artists from India. Pranjal Arts Blog covers art topics ranging from art education to art history to conversations with the artists about their journey. Read more blogs here: pranjalarts.com