A new contemporary art space made its way to the capital—Pristine Contemporary Gallery—with a fantastic and moving debut show by Sri Lanka-based Belgian artist, Saskia Pintelon. Brainchild of art connoisseurs and partners, Arjun Sawhney and Arjun Butani, Pristine Gallery’s art programme is progressive, exciting and new to the Indian buyer. ‘While the overarching mandate for Pristine Contemporary is of course Indian art and discovering emerging Indian artists, we will also look at international art and artists,’ says Arjun Sawhney. Their first-ever show might be by an 83-year-old artist but toys with very current, relevant and societal issues, politics, and human experiences, reflecting a profound engagement with the world around her. In her work, the human condition, environmental concerns, and the cyclical nature of existence intertwine with her personal reflections with a keen observational eye.
Excited to know more, we got in touch with one-half of Pristine, Arjun Sawhney. Excerpts from our conversation below.
What was the thought behind the making of the Pristine Contemporary Gallery?
We wanted to present talent from across the world in this country and even abroad. While the overarching mandate for Pristine Contemporary is to discover emerging Indian art and artists, we will also look at international art and artists. For example, our very first show is a solo by Saskia Pentelon, an 83-year-old artist from Sri Lanka, while our second show will have five artists—one is from Oman, another from South Africa, and the other three are Indian artists of similar calibre.
Your first show is by Saskia Pintelon who is indeed a highly regarded versatile artist known for a diverse range of artistic expressions. When were you first introduced to her work and what moved you about it?
I’ve always been very interested in strong individual voices. Saskia’s body of work showcases her strong perspectives on popular culture, politics, gender politics and the state of the world as it is. She marries that with a very wide range of media, from canvas to fabric—it could be superimposed or a collage. I have always found her work highly whimsical, individualistic and most of all, unique—all of which have deeply intrigued and absorbed me.
To see her works over the years, I have been personally visiting Sri Lanka, where Saskia has been residing for the last three decades—and I was very clear in my mind right from the get-go that I needed someone like her for the very first Pristine Contemporary show. Her works echo our ethos to serve as a unique voice in the world of art. One can’t call Saskia a figurative or abstract artist; she does not fit those moulds—as I mentioned earlier, the themes in her work are the many states of the world—the state of human form, the state of science, climate change, the status of women, politics, the rise of the right, sexual harassment—everything that is current in popular culture is reflected in her visually extremely powerful artworks.
What was the curatorial process?
We could say the show, Reflections: The Mirror and the Self is a profound exploration of the ever-relevant themes of self, perception, and reality. We intentionally chose artwork that challenges viewers to confront their own reflections, both in the literal and metaphorical sense, while encouraging a deeper understanding of the complexities that underlie our perceptions of self and the world. In a world, where appearances often overshadow authenticity and where the lines between perception and reality blur, this exhibition offers a moment of introspection and contemplation. A chance to scrutinise the reflections that shape our lives.
This is an exclusive excerpt from our April EZ. To read the entire article and more such pieces, follow the link here.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 09.04.2024