Awdhesh Bajpai

Artist Statement:
I am deeply interested in how life was created millions of years ago. Therefore one can perceive Science, History, Poetry and Language conspicuously in my paintings. I have worked on almost all mediums of Art; and it is difficult to discuss them all in this short profile. Hence I have dealt with my works made in the last ten years.
My paintings have a vast range like nature. They do not have a centre of focus. In fact wherever you see becomes the focus. It is similar to concentrating at any place on earth where one can perceive a number of things. One cannot look at these paintings from far; neither can you look at them with a sudden blow. One has to go close to these paintings, just like the skin one has to come very close to the surface of the painting.ructures; and one feels that they perceive them for the first time.

My paintings demand pace of inhaling the air, just opposite to the mechanical fast motion of the world. The main element of these paintings is the mathematical coordination of 3D dots, lines and shapes. These paintings are drawn in a universal style. These begin with a dot and end too in a dot. The flying aero plane is a wonderful example of this. However my dots are not 2D, they are 3D. In this way, these dots change from worldly matter to natural structures; and one feels that they perceive them for the first time.

These paintings are based on the understanding that the visible outer world is full, the invisible inner world is also full, from one fullness comes the other fullness. We can’t take away fullness from fullness, Fullness indeed always remains.
Indians often use a sentence in their conversation that ‘God is there in every particle ‘ this implies that everything, every object, every action and reaction is important. These actions and reactions flow and spread on the canvas. I demand entirety in every stroke and feel it too. Each particle is complete in itself or each particle has the creative expanse of time.

The practice of originality in viewing or adding originality to every visual phenomenon or object entwines music and painting. In these paintings one can observe plenty of figures which are in the subconscious as visual creations. These infinite figure are not visible to the naked eyes – these paintings also have algorithm. I have developed this language of painting in thirty years through my experience. One can’t look at these paintings entirely, something will be left; and it is the aesthetic quality of a visual when something remains from being perceived. These three dimensional dots creates a real Indian elegance. These dots are like balloons which exist in thousands of shapes and contours.

My paintings are influenced by all subjects and all mediums of expression. These paintings depict the details of those thousands of shapes which we have experienced or imagined. It is a set of experiences and visuals.
I like the infinite endeavors in my paintings. I try to expand every particle to its maximum, and see in how many forms the original panorama of life can be deciphered. The nature is divided into vast and subtle. The vast is becoming more vast, and the subtle is becoming more subtle – the enumeration is ceaseless. The world and creation is endless. Neither this nor that.

.Bio

Awdhesh Bajpai, born in 1965, discovered his passion for art at the tender age of four. His artistic journey began with simple tools, using colors derived from natural materials like clay, charcoal, trees, and leaves. Growing up in a village intersected by a highway, Bajpai adorned the roadside with his paintings, extending his creativity for miles. His childhood was marked by crafting clay idols and designing curtains and sets for Ramlila theatre productions.
By the time he reached higher secondary school, Bajpai had started creating mythological paintings for books, showcasing his burgeoning talent. He pursued formal education in art, earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a specialization in painting from Kalaniketan, Jabalpur, in 1989. His artistic endeavors expanded during this period, experimenting with various mediums such as ceramics, fiberglass, wood, cement, and terracotta. Bajpai’s versatility extended to art editing for literary magazines and art direction for theatre.

His art practice spanned notable cultural hubs like Shantiniketan, Mumbai, Delhi, and Bhopal (Bharat Bhawan), where he continued to refine his skills in sculpture, pottery, and murals. Bajpai is renowned for his dynamic exploration of contemporary crises through his art, making significant contributions to the Indian art scene with his innovative and thought-provoking works. Awdhesh draws profound inspiration from literature, news media, mythology, philosophy, popular culture, and art history, which he seamlessly integrates into his exploration of contemporary crises. His work is notable for its use of images from the subconscious and real-world scenarios, reflecting his deep interest in emotional, psychological, and social structures.

Over three decades, Bajpai’s artistic evolution has seen significant shifts in style, subject matter, composition, and color application. He articulates his vision through a narrative of the subconscious and the infinite, aiming to sensitize human consciousness. Bajpai’s paintings, characterized by their fluid and ever-changing forms, invite viewers to engage with an infinite and mysterious universe.

Bajpai’s artistic journey is marked by notable solo exhibitions at prestigious venues such as the taoonline art gallery and Saatchi art gallery 2024,Museum Art Gallery in Jabalpur in 2018, Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal in 2013, Gallery Art n Soul in Mumbai in 2011, Rendez Vous Art Gallery in Bhopal in 2009, The Alliance Française in Bhopal in 2004, and M.P. Kalaparisad in Bhopal in 2003. His earlier solo exhibitions include Gandhi Bhavan in Kannur, Kerala, in 1996, a dual show at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in 1989, and Patrakar Bhavan in Bhopal in 1986.

Bajpai’s group exhibitions further underscore his dynamic presence in the art world. He participated in the Indian Art Festival in Mumbai in 2018 and showcased his works at the Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi in 2015. His art has been featured at the Shanta Art Gallery in New Delhi in 2013, Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal in 2012, Gallery Pritam Lal in Indore in 2011, and Gallery Art n Soul in Mumbai in 2009. Other significant group exhibitions include the M.P. Kalaparisad in Bhopal in 2009, Dhoomimal Art Gallery in New Delhi in 2008, Aicon Gallery in California, USA, in 2008, Gallery Akar Prakar in Kolkata in 2007, Rangayan Art Gallery in Bhopal in 2007, and multiple exhibitions at Bharat Bhavan and Madhya Pradesh Kala Parisad in Bhopal between 2004 and 2006

Bajpai has also contributed to public art through significant murals at District collectorate building katni (MP),selected mural paintings in the Homi Bhabha centre for science education in Mumbai and the new district high court building in Jabalpur. His works are part of various private collections in India and abroad, underscoring his impact on the contemporary art scene.