In Conversation with Pratik Koundinye
Koundinye, born 1990, lives and works in Indore, India. He holds a MFA in painting from the Government Institute of Fine Arts in Indore and works as a guest teacher for the Faculty of Painting at International Fine Arts Academy in Indore.
The narratives in Pratik Koundinye’s works are simplistic, his figures appearing in dreamlike landscapes. At times their faces may seem dull, but rather they allude to a more stoic state of being that is driven from the artist’s personal desire and longing for utopia. What he meticulously studies and strives for in his work is finding acceptance in life and an understanding and balance towards our (ecological) environment. In Search of Happiness, his most recent series, figures are depicted working on their daily chores, occupied with their routines and habits. There are hints and motions of fatigue, discomfort, yet there are gestural signs of happiness in the small acts like playing cards, or relaxing after a long day of work. Even though his works are purely figurative, they exude an air of sentimentality and demonstrate the routine of everyday living in the ever continuous search for happiness.
Hi Pratik! You are from Indore, India, a thrilling city known for its great street food & rich cultural history in central India. Can you tell us more about the place you live and work?
Indore is located in the Malwa region which is known for its easy lifestyle, where people find happiness with minimum resources and enjoy a stress free life. One can see many people in public spaces chatting, laughing, and indulging in carefree dialogues. It is indeed known for its delicious street food such as Poha, a spicy breakfast made of flattened rice, eaten with a Jalebi crisp dipped in sugar syrup! It offers a variety of spicy, tangy foods and Indian sweets, people often refer to Indore as “food city”. Places like Lal Bagh Palace - which has recently been restored - the Central Museum, as well as many temples are exciting sites to visit. Indore’s regional folk language is considered sweet as pie and people are known for their exceptional humor and sarcasm. Although this lifestyle is slowly disappearing from Indore City because of increased pressure through commercialisation, it still exists in the countryside.
Relaxed (2022), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 30 inches
In your works you often paint lush flowers and vast horizons for the viewer to roam and dream. Do you see your works as romantic?
Ahh romantic! That could be a strong word but yes there is a bit of romance, between the people and their environment. Those vast horizons and flowers are more than just visual appeal, they signify our desires and longing for a place where we don’t need to play a certain role; we can be who we truly are. I don’t think nature gives us too many choices when we are in its lap, we have to adapt accordingly, the moment we start changing it our comfort exploitation begins. My relationship with nature is based on the same thoughts, a serene place to caress humans, which allows them to love, imagine, laugh, and heal themselves.
Dissociated (2020), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 36 inches
A New Friend (2021), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 30 x 36 inches
I noticed you incorporate emblematic details that reoccur in various works, for example the white rabbit or a little square box that holds different items in different paintings. I would love to hear more about these...
Thanks for the keen observation, yes! These objects or characters are a vital part of the work. I would say that the rabbit, the box, the pot or any of such things in the painting reflects the emotional state of the character, the environment and the whole story behind a work. However I will be happier if a viewer creates their own story first when they look at these symbols in the work. The narratives in the works are simple but these emblematic details sometimes represent the complexities of experiences, either they bring more beauty and softness in the work or express the harsh emotional conditions of a figure.
Imbecile (2020), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 48 inches
What is the process of your work? The process of work in terms of technique is quite simple. Usually I put a thin layer of color on canvas, then start with the painting. Sometimes drawing comes first on the surface, sometimes I directly draw with paint. While painting I prefer to finish the background first beginning with the skies, mountains or the walls depending on the subject of work, later ending with the figures. There are always some improvisations which appear after the work is done. In the process of creating a painting, the most exciting part is to get an idea of what I have to paint which is intuitive for me and simultaneously also comes from what I saw and experienced in the past and present.
Pratik Koundinye in his studio in Indore, India
Pratik Koundinye in his studio in Indore, India
The main characters in your work are male figures, can you tell us more about this choice?
This is one of my favorite questions, it all goes back to when I was still a student and used to practice live sketching in old markets. This area is always crowded and has narrow streets, with the exception of a garden right in the center where people spend their time in the evenings. It’s not like that women never come there, but mostly it’s men who gather for conversations after a daylong of work, during a break or just to kill time. The conversations were not only verbal but also abound with physical gestures and expressions. Their eagerness to share their own stories, to listen to other’s anecdotes, to make fun of each other, and their silly argumentative fights motivated me to paint them.
Wake Up (2022), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches
After Party (2021), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 42 inches
Fight (2021), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 48 inches
What artists do inspire you? What artists are you following these days?
India is full of rich colors, festivals and folk traditions, which I have seen since my childhood. When I was a kid, I loved to see my mother making “Rangoli’ a traditional art form of decoration during festivals. She was the one who taught me drawing and painting at an early age. Although I knew nothing about modern or contemporary art at that point. It was in the course of my BFA I learned about different art forms and movements, particularly the Impressionist artists inspired me to a great extent. Van Gogh, Monet, Modigliani had a deep emotional influence on my thoughts. Many Indian modernist painters like Abnindranath Tagore whose works were drawn from ancient Indian Art, abstractionist V.S Gaitonde and Tantra painter Prabhakar Barwe still inspire me. Presently I follow painters like David Hockney or Lenz Geerk.
Who's there (2020), Series: In Search of Happiness, Acrylic on Canvas, 12 x 18 Inches
How do you find the titles of your paintings?
I don’t think at all about the title while painting, not even when an idea to paint something comes in my mind. I just innately work on the painting letting it go with the flow. After a painting is finished I just sit back and have a nice look at it. This is the time which provides me with the titles for my paintings. The title can relate to the whole emotion of a painting or it can be related to just one character which has impressions on the overall painting.
Do you have any upcoming projects you would like to share?
I am excited that a few of my works will be part of the upcoming exhibition called “Yuva Sambhava” - A major group show of 100 emerging artists of India. It is organized by The Raza Foundation and will be shown in 5 different venues across Delhi. The shows open Saturday, March 26, 2022.
Shridharan Art Gallery, Trveni Kala Sangam
Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat center
Galerie Romain Rolland, Alliance Française
Gandhi King Memorial Plaza, India International Center
New Wing Galleries, Bikaner House
Thank you Pratik for your time!
For inquiries about the works or any other questions, please send an email to sabrina@sabrinaandres.com.
