“I don't paint what I see. I paint what I feel." This is how Prabal Mallick speaks about his passion.
Originally from Orissa, this techie has lived in Bengaluru for seven years, giving our city a whole new look through his paintings. Walking around with a tiny water colour kit and a sketch books, Prabal stops in his track anytime, anywhere, if he feels like painting. He is holding an exhibition titled 'On Location' from today until November 26 at Chitrakala Parishath.
“This exhibition is going to showcase paintings I have made in and around Bengaluru," he says. With his paints, he has brought to life Cubbon Park, Church Street, Cantonment Station, Lal Bagh and many such areas in the city. “There is a kind of energy that plays about in the open air, compared to the studio. Initially I faced problems like having a limited kit, cars honking, people shooing me off but eventually I got used to it and began loving it," he shares. A month ago he even travelled to Kundur, Hampi and Muvattupuzah in Kerala to create art.
When you look at his paintings, you may think he's a pro. But he has been painting with water colours only for three years. “I used to sketch with oil paint, but I prefer water colours. It suits my personality better," he says.
He elucidates that water colour flows freely, it spreads easily and it's a very lively medium. “It's like a partner that has a mind of its own. You can never control it. I love it because it's more challenging," he says, lovingly about his paints.
He insists that he doesn't like to be called an artist. “The word is too loosely used these days. An artist is someone who has a philosophy. I'm still in the process of developing my own philosophies," he says modestly. He also believes that painting isn't a talent. “It's a curiosity to explore further and to learn," he explains. Every weekend, he meets up with the Pencil Jammers, a group of people from all walks of life, who get together at different venues in Bengaluru and sketch. The most unique bit about his paintings is that he builds everything around a ray of light. “If I'm sitting in a studio, I see a ray of light pouring in through the window, I start from there. It basically reflects my mood. If I'm feeling calm and cool, I use cool colours, shades of grey. If I'm feeling rather heated up, I use warm colours," he says. In a way, his mind is entrapped within a frame and it's there to view and understand forever.
