RAM KUMAR is obviously not one of those artists who believes in courting the media. ‘‘What will you write about me? What will you ask me?’’ he responds to a telephonic request for an interview, on the eve of his exhibition at Delhi’s Vadhera Art Gallery. ‘‘Just get a catalogue from the gallery.’’ And that seems to be that. I suggest I meet him at his home, if that is more convenient. But that doesn’t meet with approval either. ‘‘Coming all the way to my house won’t serve any purpose. Honestly, it’ll just be a waste of your time,’’ says the 79-year-old artist. Perhaps Ram Kumar would rather that his oils—18 of his new works are on show till December 13 at the gallery—do the talking. But much persuasion and perseverance later, he finally agrees to an introductory chat. And it starts off, inevitably, with the maestro’s reluctance to open up to the media. ‘‘One becomes conscious. After the interview ends, I keep thinking about it, wondering if I should have said a certain thing in response to a certain question. Moreover, I don’t like to talk about myself. I have no secrets, no information to reveal.’’ In an age where an artist’s visibility is measured by Page 3 appearances, Ram Kumar is a reminder of a gentler, more dignified time. He indicates as much: ‘‘Ignorance annoys me. But more than that, it’s the attitude of a few young journalists who just don’t want to do any homework (that puts me off).’’ Honoured as an Officier des Arts et Lettres by the French embassy (along with Kelucharan Mahapatra and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan) in October, the septuagenarian’s style has undergone many changes over the years. Simla-born Kumar began with stylised figuratives and moved on to depict architecture and serene landscapes in his paintings. Since then, he has shifted towards total abstracts. But his working process remains the same. ‘‘I always store my works for a year before sending them to a gallery for exhibition and sale, so that I can study my weaknesses and strengths. These (works that are on show now) were also with me for a year,’’ he says. But doesn’t an artist consciously strive to create separate bodies of work, so as to provide variety for his buyers? The question could have made Ram Kumar see red, but he answers patiently, ‘‘I have never painted for the buyers, I paint for myself. But yes, one does try to bring in freshness and variety to every new series of paintings. But the themes and changes in style can’t be described. There is no linear development for an artist.’’ Vast meditative abstract landscapes dominate Ram Kumar’s latest showing. These works in ochre, yellow and green hint at the presence of a temple, a river, or a small house. But Ram Kumar isn’t interested in explaining his creations. ‘‘I want to let it go as it is. Sometimes the futility, on its own, acquires so much importance. I try to say nothing through my works. It’s a personal dialogue between me, the colours, brush and the canvas,’’ he says. This personal dialogue isn’t restricted to his canvases. He converses with his pen too. His last book, titled Shila Lekh Aur Anya Kahaniyan, was released in 2000. And right now, he is toying with the idea of writing a book on ‘‘literary reminiscences’’. ‘‘It’s just another idea, to write down my experiences as a writer. It would be a story of a person who wanted to remain a writer. I regret that I couldn’t do that,’’ says Ram Kumar.
