Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. – Mahatma Buddha
Painting is a life for me. It makes me feel joyful, it kills my thought process and after some time I feel like a vase without flowers. No matter how much I paint, the thirst does not get quenched rather it increases with every painting. When I started my journey in painting I was not aware of the outcomes and my perspective of understanding paintings was different from the original result which I am getting. I tried to paint what I was thinking and feeling but with the passing of time I found out that I am not only trying to express myself and my surrounding but am also escaping from the illusions which were surrounded me over the years.
The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground. – Mahatma Buddha
When I pick up a brush my hands start feeling a tremendous amount of energy. They start making a world on a canvas and many times I myself do not know what my hands are going to paint. My life as an artist is much like a joyful childhood than a professional job. I play with the brush and paintings get born. I am not saying that painting is a very easy work or a very joyful work; I am not very qualified to judge this art. I cannot compare between two things, I got detached from everything a long time ago which lead me to a journey where I found out that the comparison between two things is useless. In art, I have got introduced to lifelong satisfaction. I never feel any kind of exhaustion while doing this wonderful job. I indeed feel tired sometimes but never because of paintings. Over the course of time, I learn a lot and each passing day made me grateful provide me some amount of wisdom; the wisdom to forget everything, the wisdom to forgive everything, the wisdom to burn in the process of painting without leaving any trash.
There are no obstacles in the path, obstacles are the path but not in my case; I do get stuck sometimes but never get overwhelmed in the process. It provides me with unlimited patience and when you have an unlimited amount of patience you do not find anything that blocks your path. Every time I paint I float like a boat, it doesn’t require any effort, and it doesn’t require any kind of force. For me, painting is a kind of philosophy that my mind feels and heart understands.
There was a time when I was a novice in art but with every passing day canvas caught me with its all power and I found out that I do not need any kind of attachment with anything and I can float with my paintings without getting stuck in any particular object.
I am Shiva, Destroyer of Worlds. – Lord Shiva
The more I understand the more I forget. My mind was always attracted towards spirituality and I always found that it has a great place in my works. Whenever I found any lack of subject in my conscious mind my unconscious mind answers me in a spiritual way and I get introduced to the subjects of my holy religion Hinduism. It allows me to go deeper in the thoughts to get those subjects but many times I get them unconsciously without any reason. My faith was always with my religion and I never asked myself about any reason behind my faith. You can say that my faith is blind but one thing is clear I get many of my ideas and inspiration due to my faith.
“Be — don’t try to become” ― Osho
The process of my painting is not in my control because I do not let myself control it and most of the time the process controls me and it makes me feel like falling leaves of the tree whose paths are not predetermined- which makes them fall free randomly at any place. If I try to predetermine the process of painting then it becomes complicated with every step which makes it unbearable as simplicity is what I thrive in my paintings.
Meditation is nothing but withdrawing all the barriers; thoughts, emotions, sentiments .. which criteria wall between you and existence. The moment they drop, you suddenly find yourself in tune with the whole; not only in tune, you really found you are the whole. – Osho
For me, my paintings are a medium of telling stories and this is the most important thing I aim for. If it is not telling a story and not letting the viewers connect then it becomes a useless object for me. Due to my sheer aim for storytelling, I thrive on emotions and energy more than the subjects. If it is conveying my message and my emotions effectively then it is the right painting for me but if it is not conveying the right emotions then it means that I need to change color applications and energy so that I can achieve the right emotions in my paintings. Humans are emotional and if I am not catching the basic constituent of a man or woman or child then it means I am not working effectively which really pisses me off.
For the last twenty years I practice yoga and meditation regularly and due to which I have become aware of all my inner chakras which make me feel their energy and the combination of all these energies help in determining my brush strokes more efficiently. Even I can find that energy of the chakras in my paintings and it increases the beauty of my works predominantly.
“Experience life in all possible ways -good-bad, bitter-sweet, dark-light, summer-winter. Experience all the dualities. Don’t be afraid of experience, because the more experience you have, the more mature you become.” ― Osho
My current strategy of painting is to just lose myself in the process which leads to trials and errors which make it quite different and sometimes sophisticated. I let the things break, chaos happened, and canvas muddy so that in the final result I get what it should be; it is a natural process and I am not going to block or degrade it because the great process makes great paintings.
Vikash Kalra, New Delhi, India
2022
FEBRUARY 8
StoryLtd Saffron Art
2021
NOVEMBER 13, 2021
Saffron Art StoryLTD auction
Dhoomimal Gallery
OCTOBER 14, 2021- Installation of art on the facade wall of the sculpture court.
March 21 – April 4, 2021
Presented by Easel Stories Art Gallery
Artsy-
16 May 2021
https://www.artsy.net/show/easel-stories-art-gallery-vikash-kalra?sort=partner_show_position
2020
October – Rebuilding India Brick by Brick
January- Show at Artaholics Art Galley, Lado Saray, SOUZA & VIKASH ( 40 drawings of Souza & 40 drawings of Vikash)
#vikashkalra- Video Series- 5 Episodes
There is ongoing painting exhibition of paintings of one of the most
influential Indian artists F.N Souza in Artoholics, Ladosaray. It will be
running from 22nd
to 27th January where the works of two major artists F.N. Souza
and Viaksh Kalra will be showcased.You may visit
Artoholics Art Gallery at the mentioned dates to enjoy the show.
2019
January, 23-24- No reserve auction of modern and contemporary art Story Ltd (Saffron Art)
April, 16-17- No reserve auction of modern and contemporary art Story Ltd (Saffron Art)
July, 09-10- No reserve auction of modern and contemporary art, Story Ltd (Saffron Art)
August, 20-21- No reserve auction of modern and contemporary art, Story Ltd (Saffron Art)
October, 22-23 – No reserve auction of modern and contemporary art Story Ltd (Saffron Art)
Group Show with Dhoomimal Art Centre
Group Show with Dhoomimal Art Gallery
Painting displayed at Delhi Airport, Gallery Navya
February- Painting and sculptures displayed at Dhoomimal Art Centre
October – Painting displayed at Bihar Museum, Plural India, Curator- Anjani Kumar Singh
Last Supper Painting- printed on Almost Gods Jackets.
2018
Group Show: Indian Art Festival, Nehru Centre, Bombay- February-Gita Art Gallery.
Endless Communication: Solo Show – March – Gita Art Gallery.
2017
Decade: A painter’s journey a retrospective of works by Vikash Kalra
Limited edition prints & sculptures– Solo show – March – Visual Art Gallery – Prints Villa.
Thinking Big: Contemporary Sculpture and Installation by Vikash Kalra – Solo show – March – Visual Art Gallery – Prints Villa.
Book Launch Jeevan Ek Soch Matt (Poem book) by Vikash Kalra – March – Visual Art Gallery.
Book Launch Jeevan Ek Soch Matt (Poem book) by Vikash Kalra – 6th Amdavad National Book Fair May 2017.
Decade: A painter’s journey selected works by Vikash Kalra
Paintings & sculptures– Solo show – May – Courtyard Marriott Gurugram The Art Floor.
Short film Beginning of a journey artist vikash kalra ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Hpt-Uftrmg )
The Whitefield Art Collectives 2017 VR Punjab by Vikash Kalra
The Whitefield Art Collectives 2017 VR Punjab – November – Punjab Art Initiative.
2016
Tribute to Picasso & Souza by Vikash – Solo show – August – Dhoomimal Art Centre.
Live interview, DDNational – Good Evening India – 4.30pm Aug26 ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/PleoERUJGE0)
VIKASH KALRA- A TRIBUTE TO PABLO PICASSO & FRANCIZ NEWTON SOUZA/ Dhoomimal Art Centre. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=958IrsQJMaE&t=1s)
Short film on Art and spirituality – Speaker- Vikash Kalra ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/cMFsYX-9x2w)
AP’PRAA (LIMITLESS) – Public Art (Installation) 26 Sculptures – VR Bengaluru & VR Surat, Whitefield Art Collective & Art Chutney – February and April.
Short film on Sculptures “LIMITLESS”- by Vikash Kalra ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/06kAJx3zlNw)
2015
Aparajita (Beti Bachao Beti Padhao) – Group Show – Voluntary Health Association of India – Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Tales from the Soul Marrow – Solo Show – April – Art Indus, New Delhi.
Short film on Tales from the Soul Marrow – ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/3jarP3ihvxg)
JOURNEYS – Solo show – January – Indian Art Fair, New Delhi – by Art 18|21, UK.The Gandhi Group show – January –Indian Art Fair, New Delhi – by Art Indus, New Delhi.
Short film on INDIA ART FAIR 2015 – Solo show JOURNEY by Vikash Kalra ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/4uY-nleNam4)
DDNational – Good Evening India – Vikash Kalra – 16th Jan 2015 ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/yOV-DRqZGHU)
Talk on Feminism in art share views with Geeti Sen (Writer, Cultural Historian, Critic, Editor) ( Youtube link: https://youtu.be/6x-QcUxE9sE)
2014
Solo show in Indian Art Festival, 27th – 30th Nov 2014. Nehru Centre, Worli Mumbai.
THE ALCHEMIST – a monographic exhibition – Solo show – August 2014, Art and Aesthetic, Lado Sarai, New Delhi.
Four Walls – Exhibition of India’s contemporary art – Taj Westend, Bangalore from 4th -13th April 2014, with Artchutney.
Group show at Art and Aesthetic “A Tribute to MASTERS & MASTERPIECES – History Revisited”, 29th Jan – 28th Feb.
Group Show, Gallerie Nvya, The Winter Tale 2013. Sunday, December 15, 2013 to Monday, February 03, 2014.
Group show in DHOOMIMAL ART CENTRE January
2013
Solo Show in Indian Art Festival, 19-22 Dec. Nehru Centre, Bombay.
Group Show, Artchutney, Coimbatore on 23rd – 24th November, 2013.
Group Show, Voice on Art, “Centurion 2013” 9th Nov to 15th Nov, at Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi.
Group Show, Gallerie Nvya, 9th Anniversary Show “NAVA” Friday, September 06, 2013 to Thursday, November 07
Group Show, Art Chutney “ Varicolored “ The Taj West End, Bangalore. 14th July. Group Show, Gallerie Nvya, New Delhi, May 15, 2013 to July 27, 2013.
Angels of History, Solo Show, Art Konsult, Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi. Revelations-I,
The Pune Art Gallery, Pune. Modern & Contemporary Indian Art Auction, Art Chutney, Bangalore. India Art Fair 2013, Art Konsult, New Delhi.
2012
Art Bull, Autumn Auction.
Group Show, Art Bull, Lado Sarai, New Delhi.
United Art Fair, New Delhi.
Group Show, Surya Hotel, New Delhi.
Into The Void, Solo Show, Art Konsult. India Art Fair 2012, Art Konsult.
Group Show, Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad.
The Dramatics of Diverse Interpretations/Perspectives, Group Show, Art Konsult.
Group Show, Arts of The Earth, Open Palm Court,
IHC. Short Film, Obsessions, The World of Vikash Kalra by Vinod Bhardwaj previewed at Art Film Festival, NGMA, New Delhi ( Youtube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM2a64YWdEY ).
Short Film on Vikash Kalra, Dreams on Canvas previewed on Doordarshan ( Youtube link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wBeDTFeCfc )
2011
Group Show, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
Group Show, Arts of The Earth, Open Palm Court,
IHC. Autumn Auction, Artbull, New Delhi.
Museum Collection-3, Group Show, Art Konsult, Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi.
50.25.10 (50 Works, 25 Artist, 10 States) The Art Corridor, The Taj, by Art Chutney, Bangalore.
Solo Show – Nostalgia/Memory, Visual Art Gallery, IHC & Art Konsult, New Delhi.
Group Show, The Taj, Art Chutney, Bangalore.
2010
Solo Show – The Artist The Man-IV, Open Palm Court, IHC, New Delhi.
2009
Group Show, Marangar Fort, Rajasthan.
Vivid Hues, Epicentre, Gurgaon & IHC, New Delhi.
Solo Show – The Artist The Man-III, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Group Show, Rooh – The Journey Within, VAG, IHC, New Delhi.
Line of Control, Online Show with www.rangartgallery.com
2008
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
Palm Court, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Travancore Art Gallery, New Delhi.
Solo – The Artist The Man-II, VAG, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
Chehare (Faces) Online Show with www.rangartgallery.com
2007
60 Years of Independence, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.
Group Show, VAG, IHC, New Delhi.
Solo Show The Artist The Man, Palm Court, IHC, New Delhi.
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
Lakhotia Art Gallery, New Delhi.
Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
2006
Triveni Gallery, New Delhi.
Visual Art Gallery, IHC, New Delhi.
Palm Court, IHC, New Delhi.
Solo Show – Chehare (Faces) Rang Art Gallery, Delhi.
2005
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
Triveni Gallery, New Delhi. Open Palm Court, IHC, New Delhi.
An artist and a philosopher.
For me, art is a process of unlearning your previous learning. A process of simplifying myself without losing my soul. This process teaches me to divide one into multiple and multiple into one. It is about destroying my ego and entering into a thoughtless position.
-Vikash Kalra