The colour rush

Mona

My Land My People is an exhibition of paintings by the known contemporary artist, Amrao Gill. An alumni of Government College of Art, Sector 18, Gill left to study underpainting technique in US in the early 1980s. Based in US, he has done commercial work for years, but the paintings at this exhibition are not for sale.

“I want to turn my old home into a gallery and display these works there,” says Gill, in Chandigarh on a break.

“I learnt underpainting in Boston at the most-celebrated school of fine arts. All Renaissance painters – Michelangelo, Rapheal and Leonardo Da Vinci used this technique,” says Gill who has displayed 27 works in the gallery. His aim was to paint his culture in this technique, which fetched him full scholarship.

“In this technique that is 500 years old; you first do the painting in single colour like in sepia or grey and then add colours. Unlike other techniques, one can actually visualise the outcome,” says Gill. His paintings are vibrant, something that Gill credits to his roots. “While growing up, the bright colours of Holi, my mother dyeing for her Phulkari work and dariyan, do reflect in my paintings.”

A multi-faceted personality, Gill, who pens Haiku poetry, is currently learning sitar under Shaheed Parvesh Khan. “I am a huge fan of Shaheed Parvesh Khan. He regularly goes to teach in Boston.” Amongst his favourite painters, Satish Gujral tops the list. “The colours I use are quite close to the ones he uses, though the techniques we use are very different,” offers Gill, who aims to hold an exhibition and concert together in the coming time.

(On at Punjab Kala Bhawan 16 till December 18)