TFOD Profile Of The Week: Ketan Jawdekar, Artist

Simple, soft-spoken, nattily dressed, carrying off a blazer with as much panache as a linen kurta- and incredibly talented – Ketan Jawdekar is one of the finest contemporary Indian architect-artists. He controls the architect’s pen with as much flair and proficiency as he wields the brush – his most preferred medium being acrylic on canvas. His sketches – charcoal on paper – are equally stunning, the fluidity of the strokes beautifully capturing the essence of his subject.  Sketching cityscapes during his many travels, in India and abroad, have led to some  lovely captured moments/scenes – and some wonderful collections.

The subjects of his paintings, most often, are human emotions – love, loneliness, joy, silence, contemplation, celebration…and so on. The quotes of Osho, and more particularly, Osho’s quotes on love, inspire him greatly. Recently he did a series of paintings inspired by Osho; which also bagged him international acclaim!  

An artist paints what catches his fancy or spurs his imagination – at times using realistic imagery to present his thoughts and at times converting the ideas into abstract representations. There is a lot of emotion that goes into the making of a painting. The artist’s brush senses his emotions and there is an automatic response to the colours he picks or the forms he creates on a given day. 

Similarly, art evokes emotion and generates responses. The artist’s thoughts and feelings get transferred to his paper/canvas and reach the viewer – but each viewer perceives it differently; based on his/her own understanding and impressions. There are numerous studies on art and aesthetics and research is being done on the types of reactions that a work of art can elicit. Overall it is the ‘experience’ that would often come up as a huge factor – the experience of viewing it neatly placed in a serene, temperature-controlled space against a white backdrop would certainly differ from one where it is strewn amidst varied accoutrements in a sun-room full of noisy kids! The same mind responds differently to the same work of art, because the conditions of viewing it change. The aesthetic experience, therefore has neurological underpinnings.

Some theories indicate that the viewers’ experience of a work of art depends on its comprehensibility or ability to be understood easily. There is of course, a counter argument that suggests that the viewers should get the freedom to interpret the work independently, without preconceived notions. Those artists that follow this theory usually title their works as “untitled”. However, some believe that if the artist provides some information about his creation – such as a title, or description, viewers will understand the piece better, and enjoy it. 

Ketan Jawdekar supports this theory too; and gives a ‘title’ to each of his works. At times, he adds a ‘statement’ too – sharing with the viewers the intrinsic thought behind each creation; thereby increasing its perceived understanding. Some such as "Rhythm of Silence' or 'Mirage' or ‘Dusk’ or ‘Uphill’ or ‘Niraakar’ or ‘Mumbai Contrast’ aptly summarise the essence of the painting – and yet leave a lot to the viewer’s sensory experience of the work. 

Whether it is the meticulously created finger-paintings or the blindfolded paintings auctioned off for charitable causes; whether it is the random charcoal musings doodled during drives or the gigantic, gorgeous canvases custom-made for clients’ sites – Ketan Jawdekar surpasses himself with each creation!