The zeal to explore has beckoned Sujata Bajaj to plunge into the mysteries of the universe. What began as a moment of cosmic fascination blossomed into ‘Spacescapes,’ a series that pushes the boundaries of her meticulous style. It balances undaunted artistry with the sublimity of celestial landscapes. This interview attempts to understand this intuitive approach, her composition of energies into tangible forms, and the vulnerabilities that coat her work.
Excerpts from an interview
Can you articulate how the vast universe resonated with a side of your practice you haven’t yet explored?
What resonated with me was the desire to explore colour with more freedom than I had ever before. In Spacecapes, I had to dive into a whole new way of using colours and fluidity. You’ll find a lot less containment of colour within the strokes and the specific lines, which was a defining feature of my work with crisp intersecting lines and distinct shapes. In this case, however, there is much more freedom. There’s spilling of one colour into the next.
The use of black is prominent in your series. How did you balance the interplay of darkness and light to capture the dynamism and sublimity of the cosmos?
The connection lies in the depth of the outer space and the depth of colour within my work. The use of black is prominent in most of my work. Specially here because we’re dealing with more fluidity. Drama and colours are something that I’ve always valued. For me, it’s important to show the strength of colour and often that contrast is what creates a dramatic look. Since we don’t have as much strength coming from the defined strokes, the strength has to come from the contrast with the black.
How that translates to the subliminal outer space would be through the intensity of darkness. It’s the black that brings out the rest of the colours and creates depth.
Celestial River Acrylic on canvas with silver leaf |
The book documenting “Spacescapes” shows the project’s evolution. What emotional or philosophical questions does it pose or delve into?
I believe that the work should cause the emotional response. The book documenting spacecapes is a manifestation of this work, signifying a new chapter in my career. There needed to be a book because it is an entirely new line of work for me. It’s a new way of thinking, of using my materials, and therefore it marks a new journey. I’m not sure where this will take me, but there had to be a mark of some kind.
You mention the Northern Lights as a point of inspiration; is there any specific instance in your life that brought about this influence?
The Northern Lights have always been fascinating. They have a beautiful fluidity in how the colours dance together. This parallels ‘Spacecapes,’ it’s almost a melodic dance between colours where they come together, then separate. It’s hard to know what they will do in that instant, they’re unpredictable. That’s the beauty of it.
Cosmic metamorphosis – acrylic on canvas with silver leaf |
What thought comes to you right before you pick up the paint brush?
It’s hard to narrow it down to a specific thought. Sometimes I can spend a week before a blank canvas and while it may look like no work is happening, there’s actually a lot happening in my brain, in my subconscious. When I start painting, that week I had spent in front of the blank canvas becomes an informer of what is about to start on the canvas.
What were the challenges and revelations of embarking on such an ambitious project?
When you’ve been working with a specific kind of imagery for a long time, people associate you with it. By diving into something new, you’re exposing yourself, so there is vulnerability.
When you’re younger, it’s easier to adapt, but once you’ve established yourself in a specific style, it takes more courage. So, I think the challenge was to allow myself that vulnerability, not knowing what the result or the response would be like.
This approach forced me to think in a different frame of mind. Even if you’ve spent decades of your career defining a specific technique and aesthetic, there’s always space to see how you can take what you know and apply it differently. It’s the same language, but a new dialect. And that’s what I want to emphasise. The willingness to play and further experiment.
What journey do you envision the viewers embarking on?
The beauty with abstraction is that it allows the mind to free itself of constraints, letting your imagination flow and your perception to be entirely subjective. There’s an added aspect of connecting art with science; thus, it could spark a curiosity by drawing parallels between the two universes.
I’ve always wished for people to look at my work and interpret it as they please. To feel the energies more than a specific message. So I hope that people will find their energetic response to the work.
This exploration of ‘Spacescapes’ reveals more than just a shift in artistic technique; it illuminates the evolution of Bajaj’s relationship with her craft. Her artistic temperament has erupted, propelling her to new heights of expression. By embracing change, she has created a body of work that transcends mere visual representation, inviting viewers to embark on their subjective introspection.
