Antonio Puri



Antonio Puri: I love the beauty of grey

It is not really long back that an Artist-Architect, Le Corbusier, etched his innermost feelings in actual time and space by designing the city of Chandigarh. Interestingly, it is once again that one comes across another artist, Antonio Puri, etching his intimate thoughts in actual time and space. A common thread between the two is that of creating their visions in concrete. The difference being that the former created walls and ceilings and the latter, painted canvases. To the world, their works appear to be creative edifices but scratched deeper, they seem to be hiding innumerable personal life experiences and journeys, some joyful and some poignant.

Antonio Puri’s Hindu-Christian name releases him from the confines of religion and geographical constrictions, imparting universality to his identity and his work. However, despite his having ventured away to the Western world, his soul is firmly grounded in the soil of modern city of Chandigarh, his birthplace. It is this bond that reflects impressions from Chandigarh in his works that are essentially in the form of Abstraction.

Just like the iconic and imposing Capitol Complex of Chandigarh that recently received World Heritage status from UNESCO, Antonio’s work titled, “Chandigarh”, Mixed media on canvas, 96” x 144”, 2014, builds together a number of small canvases, to create a large composition imparting the impression of a wall that could be part of any of the impressive buildings designed by Le Corbusier. Interestingly the composition has deliberate spray of red and white, in no specific order, giving the impression of serenity observed in the Japanese paintings.

Almost as a response to his work ‘Chandigarh’ and an ode to his own existence, Antonio’s work titled, “Birthplace”, Mixed media on canvas, 144” x 288”, 2012-2014, seems to reverberate with personal life experiences that are associated with the city of Chandigarh. The composition seems to be emerging into a random pattern based on a grid that is the basis of the organized architecture of the city. At a personal level, this could be the various complex situations experienced in a city that is organized.

It is fascinating to understand the technique employed by Antonio. His canvas originally begins with a riot of colours that gets treated under layers of monochromatic colour palette in grey, giving the impression of concrete that ,literally, sets the composition in concrete. The layers are not a mere artistic exercise but are representing layers of Antonio’s personal life journey. A journey that took him away from the place of his birth to far off lands, with life experiences that have left a deep and permanent imprints on his life, just like the concrete of his canvas.

“Assembly Hall”, Mixed media on canvas, 71” x 68”, 2014, gives the impression of architectural line drawing with an aerial view of the building. The strong black lines interspersed with dotted patterns are the representation of the Assembly hall. Antonio’s large assembled works, when displayed, span the architectural space, making an impact that impels its viewer to take its notice. In contrast, his work, “Antaskaran”, Mixed media on Canvas, 12” x 60”, 2018, a smaller composition which is a corner-piece, seems to be gently embracing the architectural space from both sides at right angles, appearing to be encompassing the essence of space, matter and existence. There is a philosophical appeal to the composition.

His works are an amalgamation of geographical spaces that span continents yet there is a reflection of tenacious relationship that connects with human emotions. The compositions appear like a Google map encompassing various mountains, valleys, plains, water bodies and cities, with all of them having a physical entity that is wrapped together in abstraction. The vast expanse of his canvases is subtly interspersed with elements like the moon, spray of flowers and motifs. His canvases don’t seem to be having a beginning or an end, inviting its viewer to interact with his creation from any point that pleases the viewer, for his compositions are not mere abstractions but carry hidden symbols of life’s journey. There is an independent story and a vision that builds up in every part of the composition.

The multilayered textures of his works create a drama that does not need the refuge of colours but are more perceptible in a palette that is monochromatic. The loops of thread might give the impression of movement but they are essentially a metaphorical depiction of the complexities of life. Antonio takes dots and motifs from the decorative tradition of Henna and Rangoli that are integral part of Indian culture. It is his strong connection with his birthplace that might seem, physically, far away in the Western World that Antonio has settled in.

Antonio experiments, artistically, with the urban planning of modern architecture of Chandigarh. While he creates the impression of Architectonic structures through his canvases, he also experiments with dimensionality by creating block structures. His work titled, “Cornerpiece”, Mixed media on Canvas, 14” x 12” x 60”, 2014, is a 3-dimension composition. The grainy layers of colour trickling down the front panel gives the feeling of flowering vines that gives an impression of veiling heaven under their cascading grove. Despite the monochromatic colour palette, there is a comforting feel of the floral spray.

Playing yet again, with the monumentality of the architecture of Chandigarh, Antonio creates a linear composition titled, “Stack”, Mixed media on canvas, 16” x 20” x 70”, 2012. Literally, a stack of a number of canvases, the work is a reminder of the early days of construction in Chandigarh that every citizen who had settled in the city at that time, relates with. Unlike his grey palette, this composition is in the gentle tones of pale white with an occasional spray of Rose pink .There is a sense of celebration of creativity , perhaps of life, and hope for the future.

Interestingly, Antonio relates the 50 years of his own life with the 50 years since the passing away of the architect, Le Corbusier, whose Chandigarh opus has been more of a muse than an inspiration to Antonio. His work, “Cincuenta”, acrylic on hand made khadi paper, 22” x 30”, 2016, is like a joint tribute both to the Architect and to himself. The term Cincuenta meaning 50 in Spanish , shows an amalgamation of the personal and artistic journey of Antonio. The colour grey has attained a gentler tonal effect and the Indian traditional motifs in white create a sense of spirituality that perhaps is the path that might be leading Antonio to a new direction. Perhaps this work might be heralding a new trajectory of his personal and artistic journey.

Having received Art degrees from Academy of Art University of San Francisco and University of Iowa, Antonio has exhibited his works in many countries and various museums. Who knows, his exhibition at the Government Museum, Chandigarh, could either be the catharsis, or a kind of home coming - connecting his past to his present.

Taking artistic liberty with the concept of reinforced concrete, using its grey palette, playing with the textures, Antonio reveals his personal life experiences on his canvases. The embedded motifs are like those memories that have become an integral part of his own entity. He creates a microcosm within the expanse of the Universe, interpreting the stories that are his own but are open to anyone who has the desire to read and interpret them.

One is reminded of Kahlil Gibran’s lines –

And if it is for your comfort to pour your darkness into space,

It is also for your delight to pour forth the dawning of your heart.

Dr. Seema Bhalla

Art Historian

Curator

Critic

installation at Government Museum and Art Gallery, Chandigarh, India 2016