Satish Gujral has dominated the art scene in India for over last six decades.

Painter, sculptor, architect, muralist, graphic artist and writer, all rolled in one, he is indeed a living legend. The zestful octogenarian continues to experiment with different mediums and to explore diverse themes. The crux of his creative philosophy and energy, as stated above, lies in constant experimentation.

According to him, an artist’s style, which becomes his identity, cannot be stretched beyond a certain degree. That is why he keeps on experimenting. No surprise, he was among the first artists from India to make paper collages. Revealing the secret of his passion to create multi-faceted art, he notes,

“When you’re consistently in creative activity, it fills you up with a zest to live on and on. Only when I think this creativity may end, that will be the end of myself, he adds, “I don’t give titles, I don’t give ideas, so that you have to find your own truth. It will liberate you.”

His new suite of paintings, drawings and sculptures were recently on view at Jehangir Art Galley, Mumbai. A constant yearning to strike a balance between tradition and modernity was evident in it. The hallmarks of his oeuvre – fragmented imagery, vibrant colors, and meticulous attention to detail – were amply visible. In a way, his subtle message of ‘evolve, sans letting your roots die’ came to the fore through it.