Ganesh Haloi

"I try to fit the irregular movements of life into the artificial boundaries of the paintings."

Ganesh Haloi’s lifetime oeuvre warmly reminds us of the dynamic traverse that modern Indian art undertook over the last century. Haloi's innerscapes are the testimony to his long, ardent and patient practice, which evolved from landscape and figuration. One of the prominent abstract octogenarian artists of India, his works are associated with the subtle movements in the psyche and its responses.

Haloi’s initial landscapes were naturalistic and impressionist in style. Although being trained in applied art, his interest in painting made him full-fledged follow his passion. He painted nature-scapes on rice paper, while eventually experimenting with lines and the minimal approach. Do the large empty spaces in the artwork narrate his deep stability? The spaces are proof of his moments and the gap which waits for the next stroke’s call!

Born 1936 in East Bengal, the partition made him shift to Kolkata. After graduation from the Government College of Art and Craft, he joined the Archaeological Survey of India, examining and copying Ajanta paintings for a short period. Exploring several Indian regions, these experiences influenced his figurative and abstract practice. Being a lecturer at his alma mater also helped him strengthen his fundamentals, which today persistently glimmer his expressions.

Haloi's initial experiences and later probing within himself juxtaposed him at a position where he begins to witness and accept social events peacefully. Hence, a philosophical stance begins to generate through his compelling oeuvre. Haloi’s works may follow a spiritual road but they are the result of his many socio-political experiences that have shaped his personality over time. His works have been exhibited and collected worldwide.

Ganesh Haloi lives and works in Kolkata, India.