AN OBDURATE ARTIST
When one asks Amol Palekar his own opinion about his creative journey, he says, “Now that I often retrospect, I feel Camus’ words etch out through my 45 years’ career: ‘I rebel, therefore I exist’. I stared as a painter, perhaps will end as one! A circle may emerge as a visual, though the path was never defined & linear. I lived through many forms – visible & invisible! The tangible success was fulfilling, but the pauses & blanks spanned through were equally intriguing.”
Having graduated from JJ School of Art in 1965, Amolji had his first solo exhibition in 1967 at the Taj Art Gallery. He continued to paint till 1982 during which he had 7 solo shows. He always painted abstracts in oil. Then he was also active in the three dimensional space of theatre which offered the painter in him more elements for exploration such as audio, depth and live human presence. The world of cinema engaged him for next 30 years. As an actor, he acted in about 50 films in 5 languages. As a Director, he directed 6 films in Hindi, 8 in Marathi and 2 in English. He continued to do obdurately what he felt like doing from within… without any compromises! But the vulgar market forces escalating with the changing times have alienated the performer in him – and again, he has found consolation in the blank canvas which triggers an introspective journey in search of those images hidden in his mind. His finished canvas with all its perceptible and untraceable possibilities will offer a confession!
