Page 47 - Studio International - March 1965

2 3

the works of six artists of diverse character and explicitly stated. Constellations and explosions in
influence. Gaitonde and Samant have been affected by cosmic paths perform their parabolic trajectories across
the New York abstract expressionism through contact his canvas or paper in warm colours; like outer space
with that city. The latter, who lives in Bombay now, has itself seen through a telescope there are no voids, in the
created rich textures with incised plaster effects of old distance is always a further galaxy. Sheer inventive
walls to which subtle but warm colour schemes add genius weaves design of unending variety between our
atmosphere of enduring civilizations. M. F. Husain, the eyes and the background. never without meaning.
oldest exhibitor, has travelled and shown in the West never without joy, never without spontaneity.
previously and an early source was obviously Matisse, Giacomo Manzu, world famous as a sculptor, has
just as Picasso has impressed Tyeb Mehta. been painting for years on the theme of the Painter and
Best-known to London gallery-goers are Francis N. His Model. already the subject of sculpture in 1958-59.
Souza and Avinash Chandra. Both are represented in Until now he has refused to exhibit the canvases and
some range in which Souza displays the greater for the first time they were on view at the Hanover
diversity. For Souza his painting is the expression of Gallery. Inge, whom he has sculpted many times, is
attitudes-to life. to priests. to politicians. to women. treated here with the endowing richness of colour and
especially to women. Even in his landscapes there the fresh and fluid rendering of her in a Matisse­
seems the urge to personalise trees and architecture so flowered peignoir recalled vividly my memory of
that jagged toothy outlines savage the skyline lunching with her and Manzu at the studio of fellow­
Altogether tender are his seated nudes where a breast­ sculptor Franta Belsky and his wife when Manzu was
bone deliberately distorted accentuates our reaction to here a few years ago. Vividness, in fact, is the keynote
the living form which is urgently and immediately of these paintings and drawings; the brush no less than
contoured on the canvas. the kneading fingers are instruments of evoking human
In Chandra we are no less conscious of the presence life that has always been the hallmark of Manzu.
of the female image. It is inherent in the floating orbs Two English painters having associations with the
and priapic symbols no less than where it is more Euston Road School, Lawrence Gowing and Adrian
127