Born in 1965 ,Tamluk
Paresh Maity was born in Tamluk, a suburban town near the Bay of Bengal who has been a prolific painter in a short career span with a unique place in the Indian art scene who was often referred to as the “William Turner of India”. There is the unmistakable ‘soulfulness’ of mood and memory, sweep and slash of colours and the transparent depth of his watercolour that makes Maity’s artistry a wonderful coalescence of art and thought. He weaves into his psychological stream the many faces of nature — the colours of the sea and the pitter-patter of raindrops. Nature has always been a part of his psyche and surroundings. Throughout Paresh’s childhood, nature was omnipresent. He lived in a time where one had to become either an engineer or a doctor. Nevertheless, he went to Kolkata then to Delhi to pursue art but lacking the financial capacity to enroll in the College of Art, he went back to Kolkata. Here is where he had the glimpse of the works of the Western masters such as Rembrandt, Turner, Constable, Winslow Homer to name a few at the Victoria Memorial Hall which he used to visit. Seeing their works sparked in him the desire to be like them; he wanted to be known as a hardworking artist. In awe of Rembrandt’s way of using light, he tried to capture his method and simultaneously admired the impressionists, the cubist phase of Picasso but considered Rembrandt, Homer and Turner to be his favorites. He traveled all over India, and anywhere he went, he painted nature but felt that his understanding of it was never enough. At the onset of the 90s, figures started to appear in his works as opposed to the traditional landscapes from his early years. Figures of men and women, animals and birds became part of his watercolour, a medium which he had come to master. Paresh despised the harsh side of life which reflected in his paintings which are all soft and soothing.
Like many other artists of India, Paresh had a humble beginning. His first work of three watercolours was sold for Rs 75 each to Gallery Chemould in Kolkata when he was 18 years old.
Paresh is an instinctive master of watercolour, a notoriously difficult medium and has the ability to interpret light in terms of pure colors. It is hard to classify his work within any particular tradition of watercolour painting. He has progressed from an early realism to a more moody expressionistic and atmospheric style.
What has become of paramount importance to Paresh is to ‘capture the moment’ . He chooses to work directly from nature - on the spot. “If you paint directly from nature, what you have is a direct transformation”, he says. ‘You can capture the moment, the emotion, the feeling, the light.”
Graduating from the Government College of Art in 1990, he brought with him the myriad memories of the bustling Kolkata trains to the capital city of Delhi. “Travelling everyday by the trains, watching the people go about their everyday chores was an image that remained in my mind, I suddenly realized how central the human image is to our understanding, to our deeper instincts.” In the case of Paresh, he did not use pencil, pen and ink like the old masters in the 1700s; instead he used the colour directly with the brush to indicate tonal contrasts along with the distinctiveness of applying the highlights as well as the darker tonalities. Paresh never played with description; it was always the real thing and you realized that his paintings too were born of that realism.
Paresh Maity - Artworks
Once he’s back from his sojourns all over the world, he ceases to meet anyone in the morning hours, he spends all his time in the act of creation. “Painting is a passion for me, it is a parallel from if self expression”. The works during mid-80s to the end of the decade register this impact most fully. In this crucial period, he laid aside the sharp gesturalist rhetoric that had been his trademark, replacing it with a softened, blunted mark. In the closing years of the preceding century, Paresh abandoned his older approach altogether and devoted himself entirely to the new stylistic direction that he had traced out for himself in a few key paintings.
For centuries, the Camel Fair at Pushkar in Rajasthan, has been a colourful mingling of sacred ritual and business. Around the full moon in the month of Kartik (October and November), 200,000 or so pilgrims and traders come to this town to trade some 50,000 camels and other livestock and to take a cleansing dip in lake by one of the two temples in India dedicated to Brahma. At Pushkar, it was the sight of the ghats around the lake that enthralled Paresh. “About 52 ghats and a profusion of people with cattle, cows, camels, women with those long lehengas and rich embroidered work with beads, mirrors and bells. The scene is a fantastic mix of another age in today’s world. The colour that they wore, the magenta, the sunset yellow, the parrot green, nowhere in India do we encounter so many colours all at once. I came back and started a few watercolor with just different studies of these faces.” This is how the Niyaka series in his genre was born. Face to face series for Paresh derives it very essence from the power of memory. Through the faces that came off his train of thought, Paresh’s attempt was to capture the elusive images of the human countenance in concrete definite forms.
Souza - Indian Artist
A very skilled artist, he wields a rugged palette, and is extremely versatile in his treatment of colour and texture. He has held many solo shows, including exhibitions at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, Gallerie Ganesha in New Delhi and Gallery Katayun in Kolkata. He has participated in various group shows like the National Art Exhibition in Jaipur, Kala Mela, Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi, and the Citibank Group Show in Mumbai. Besides other accolades, he has also received the National Scholarship from the Government of India and the All India Mini Sculpture Exhibition Award from AIFACS. He gradually moved from atmospheric scenery to representations of the human form. His more recent paintings are bold and graphic, with a strong color and unusual cropping. His works are in a number of collections, including the British Museum, and the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. In early years he did many watercolours of different locations.
Souza - Indian Artist
Education
Master of Fine Arts, College of Art, New Delhi
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Government College of Art and Crafts, Kolkata
Honours and Awards
1983 Gold Medal, USSR,
1983 Award from Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata
1985 Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata,
1985 Award, Government of West Bengal for Best Water Colour Painting Award,
1986 Award, Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata,
1987 Jamini Roy Birth Centenary Celebration Award,
1988 Governor's Gold Medal from Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata,
1988 Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Celebration Award,
1989 National Scholarship Award, Government of India,
1990 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Award for Best Watercolour Painting, New Delhi,
1990 Award for Outstanding Painting, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata,
1990 All India Fine Arts and Craft Society Award for 62nd All India Art Exhibition, Delhi
1992 Pt. Ravishankar Award from College of Art, New Delhi,
1993 British Council Visitor ship,
1999 Harmony Award, Mumbai,
2002 Royal Watercolour Society, London,
2005 Indo-American Society,
2012 Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education,
2013 ABP’s Sera Bengali Award, Kolkata,
2013 Hall of Fame by Hello (Times of India Group)
2013 Sera Bengali Award in Kolkata by ABP
2014 Cartier Award, St. Moritz Switzerland Art Masters,
2014 Padma Shri, Government of India,
2016 Eastern Eye Editor’s Special Award for contribution in field of art in Royal Festival Hall, London,
2017 Award from Bihar Government,
Solo Exhibitions
2017 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, presented by Art Musings
2017 Forty Years of Watercolour, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, presented by Art Alive Gallery
2017 Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai presented by Gallery Sumukha
2016 Beyond Horizons, Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
2015 CIMA Gallery, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata
2014 The Arts House, presented by Gallery Sumukha, Singapore
2014 Symphony of Silence, Jehangir Art Gallery and Art Musings, Mumbai
2013 Venetian Odyssey, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2012 Passion, presented by Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore at The Arts House, Singapore
2011 Shesh Lekha: The Last Poems of Rabindranath Tagore, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, Mumbai; Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai; Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2010 The World on Canvas, presented by Art Alive gallery, New Delhi at Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
2009 Montage Moments Memories, Jehangir Art Gallery; Art Musings, Mumbai
2009 Montage Moments Memories, Jehangir Art Gallery; Art Musings, Mumbai
2009 Montage Moments Memories, Jehangir Art Gallery; Art Musings, Mumbai
2009 Montage Moments Memories, Jehangir Art Gallery; Art Musings, Mumbai
2008 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore; Visual Arts Gallery, Hong Kong
2008 An Enchanting Journey – Paresh Maity's Kerala, Art Alive, New Delhi
2007 Paresh Maity: Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures, Photographs, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2006 Aicon Gallery, Palo Alto
2006 Visual Arts Gallery, Hong Kong in collaboration with Gallery Sumukha
2005 Arts India, New York
2005 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in collaboration with Art Musings, Mumbai
2005 Gallery in Cork Street, London in association with ICICI Bank
2004 Organized by Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore and Easel, Singapore at Alliance Francaise, Singapore
2004 Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2003 Shapes in Symphony, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
2003 Arts India, New York
2003 Tagore Centre, Berlin
2003 Venetian Odyssey, British Council, New Delhi
2001 Venetian Odyssey, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2001 Philip Gallery, London
2000 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2000 Gallerie Aspekte, Germany
2000 Venetian Odyssey, Hotel Aryanbika, Debrecen, Hungary
2000 Gallerie Mohanjeet, Paris
1999 Two Decades of Classic Watercolours, Shridharani, Triveni Kala, Sangam; Gallery Ganesha, and British Council, New Delhi
1998 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 Gallery Mohanjeet, Paris
1998 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
1997 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1996 Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
1996 Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi
1996 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1996 Paracelsus Rotenfleskdinik Ausgestelt in association with Gallery Aspekie, Germany
1996 ARKS Gallery, London
1995 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1994 British Council, Kolkata
1994 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1994 The Gallery, Chennai
1994 Gallery Aspekte, Germany
1994 Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
1993 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1993 All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1992 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1992 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1992 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1992 Siddartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu
1992 Windsor Manor, Bangalore
1991 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1991 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
1991 Sophia Duchesne Art Gallery, Mumbai
1990 Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1990 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
1989 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
1988 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 Culture of the Streets, Aicon Gallery, New York
2012 Talking Heads, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2012 Eternal Landscapes, with Ram Kumar presented by ICIA at The Arts Trust, Mumbai
2011 States of Departure: Progressives to Present Day, Aicon Gallery, London
2011 Gallery Sumukha, Chennai
2011 Aureus 2011, Gallery Nvya, New Delhi
2010 Symbols and Metaphors, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2009 Mark of Masters -2, Art and soul, Mumbai
2009 Think Small, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2009 Beyond the Form, Bajaj Capital Art House; Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008 Review, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2007 Young Guns, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai
2007 Art Alive, London
2007 Art and Fashion Show, Gallery Sumukha
2007 Royal Watercolour Society, London
2007 Ueno, Royal Museum, Tokyo
2007 Darpan, Gallery Nvya, New Delhi
2007 Indian Summer, Art Alive, London
2007 Vistar, Limited Edition, New Delhi
2007 House of Lords, London in collaboration with Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
2006 Style File Show, Mumbai
2006 Two to Tango, Gallery Nvya, New Delhi
2006 V & A, London
2006 Tate Britain, UK
2005 Joint Exhibition with Gallery Nvya, New Delhi
2005 Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2005 Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2005 Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 Kumar Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 Arushi Art, New Delhi
2005 Royal Watercolour Society, London
2005 Sanskriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2005 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
2004 Family Group Show, Visual Art, London
2003 Uttarayan, group show of Egypt
2002 Rossy and Rossy Gallery, London in association with Gallery’88, Kolkata
2002 International water colour exhibition, Royal Watercolour Society, London
2001 Rossy and Rossy Gallery, London, in association of Modi Foundation
2001 Erotica, Gallery Mohanjeet, Paris
2000 Participated in Indian exhibition in Dubai
1997 Images of Kolkata, Exhibition along with Ragu Rai and Desmond Doig, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata
1996 Tribute to Mother Teresa, Mumbai
1996 Sakhi Mandal, Bangalore
1996 Gallery 88, Kolkata
1996 Rotary Club, Kolkata
1996 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1996 Views and Visions, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi
1996 Wounds, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1996 National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
1996 Trends and Images, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1996 World Miniature Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
1995 Tree in My Life, Village Gallery, New Delhi
1995 Urusvathi, New Delhi
1995 Hyatt Regency, New Delhi
1994 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
1994 Gallery 88, Kolkata
1994 Indian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tokyo
1994 People for Animals, Taj Hotel, New Delhi
1993 Malhar, Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi
1993 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
Participations
2012 Synergy 2012, 12th Anniversary Show, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011 Celebrations 2011, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
2010 Art Celebrates 2010: Sports and the City, represented by Art Alive Gallery at Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games
2010 Summer Show 2010, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2010 Evolve: 10th Anniversary Show, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2010 Annual Exhibition, Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 Celebration 2010, Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi
2007 Harmony Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2006 17th Anniversary Show, Gallery Ganesha
2005 Triennale, India
2005 Lalit Kala’s Golden Jubille Celebration Show, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
1997 Aquarelle Internationale Thun, Switzerland
1996 Silver Jubilee Exhibition. Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
1995 Cleveland International Drawing Biennale, Cleveland
1991 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1990 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1990 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1989 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1989 Annual Exhibition, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
Articles
Jehangir Art Gallery opens door for Maity show
A Maity Good Artist
Painter Paresh Maity’s colourful Odyssey at New Delhi International Airport
Paresh Maity: A life in canvas
The happy art of Paresh Maity
The traveling artist: Paresh Maity on turning his journeys into art
Nature of his work: A look at Paresh Maity’s work spanning over 40 years
The Story of Indian Art #19: Paresh Maity
“Don’t Impose Art” says Paresh Maity
Different Strokes
Leading Indian artist Paresh Maity spins a tapestry of life
Artist Paresh Maity’s latest show is a toast of his love for watercolours
Taking Art off the wall and into your wallet
Artist Paresh Maity paints with IB students at art festival
Kala Sutra art fair at Arts House focuses on Indian artists
From landscapes to sculpture, tour artist Paresh Maity’s world
Art is life, and life is art
Oh so Maity talented!
The Mighty Maity of Indian Art
A Maity good time at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
Books
An Enchanting Journey: Paresh Maity’s Kerala
Paresh Maity: An Odyssey 16th -29th November 2000
Paresh Maity: Shapes in symphony
Paresh Maity: World of Watercolours
Life and Works of Paresh Maity - 25 years
The World on a Canvas - Paresh Maity
Videos
Art Talk - Paresh Maity
Renowned painter Paresh Maity’s art exhibition ‘Sounds of Silence’ to be put up at Kolkata
Paresh Maity: The battleground of waterways
Paresh Maity Behind the Canvas