Homes

Piraji Sagara’s Untitled, created in 1964 is an Indian painting that uses enamel, encaustic and wood on a ply board. The painting measures 35.7 × 48 inches (90.7 × 121.9 cm). Is documented by DAG. Of showing a traditional scene in a realistic way Sagara builds the image using simplified forms, sharp lines, architectural shapes and bold areas of color. The mix of painted surfaces and wood gives the work a sense of material presence and texture. According to DAG the painting looks at the connection between people and their homes. Sagara does not show a domestic scene. Instead he combines shapes with simplified human figures in an abstract layout. The sharp lines help define both the buildings and the people in the painting. Flat areas of color bring a sense of order and harmony. Bright colors appear underneath or between more subdued sections creating visual contrast. The use of wood was very important to Sagara’s process. DAG points out his interest in burnt wood and links this material exploration to the work of his Jeram Patel. In this painting wood is not a surface for paint. It becomes a part of how the viewer sees and feels the piece. The mix of wood, encaustic and enamel lets the viewer notice both texture and form. Made in the 1960s the painting shows the search for ways in Indian modern art. Its simple shapes, areas of tone and architectural lines move away, from traditional realistic styles. At the time the theme of people and their homes gives the abstract image a human and relatable focus. The painting brings together material experimentation, geometry and ideas about home and belonging.