Paramjot Walia
What is your definition of ‘Art’?George Martin: To me art is the “way of life” and “search for the absolute”.What art do you most identify with?GM: Visual ArtName two artists you’d like to be compared to?GM: Franz Ackermann, Gao Brothers What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received in this field? GM : Hold/protect your inner light and grow your ‘self ’GM: I would like to be known as some one who is connected to the universe and everything belongs to me and I, to everything. What are you trying to communicate through your art? GM: My work originates from the simple desire to make people aware of their urban surroundings/presence – this can include not just the physical, but also the psychological world that we live in. What do you feel is the most challenging thing about
being an artist? GM: The cultural and economic crisis imposed by an ideal society. within you, amidst darkness you will glow your self. Is it more important to be ‘liked and appreciated’ than to
be honest to your creative self? Justify. GM: It varies from person to person, and to me, creativity is the process. When the person is passionate about his work, fame and appreciation would follow him (sooner or later). Describe a real-life situation that inspired you? In my childhood I used to hear travel experiences from my father and my uncles (they served in the INDIAN ARMY). When I grew up I started travelling, more often by choice, it opened up my mind. Real life situations, migration, city, home, root and dislocation everything was very inspiring and haunting… If you had to be described by others in one word, which word would you hope they used and why? Who do you consider to be your creative mentors? Which movements or people who have influenced your work the most over the years? GM: Mother, churches, hometown, filmclubs, theater groups, local writers and activists, and amongst artists K. Reghunathan, Dilip Saha, and Rupa Paul, they all have influenced my work. Do you ever find yourself in a creative dry-spell? If so, what do you do to find yourself again and create new work? GM: I was teaching in different art institutions during the initial years of my creative career. They left no space for dreaming. So I quit jobs. Situations only pushed me to move further, out of limitations I found new ideas. If not an artist, the world what would have seen you as ?