Even at 85, Akbar Padamsee is as curious as a child. The world-class artist, who will be having his first solo exhibition in the city after two years, still displays the enthusiasm of someone who has just started off. While his voice is just about audible, the twinkle in his eyes is intact as he talks about his first ever exhibition in giclée prints.
For the uninitiated, “giclée print” is an innovation in printing technology that are produced on a large-format, high-resolution ink-jet printer for fine art printing. The French term “giclée” means to a spray or spurt of liquid. This form of printing is said to provide better colour accuracy than other forms of reproduction. And when a master colourist like Padamsee chooses the medium for his works, the quality leaves little to be questioned.
He, however, doesn’t seem too willing to take credit for this particular exhibition. “I am more on the passive side, because work was already done.” he says, with a smile.
Pointing at Penny Patel of India Fine Art Gallery, Mumbai, who was sitting in the same room with us, Padamsee adds, “It was she who approached me with the idea. From her I came to know that works of several master artists the world over has been converted into giclée prints and the response has been great. But the process takes a lot of time because you need to get the colours right.”
The works displayed in this exhibition are canvas prints, true to size. There are four landscapes and two heads. Penny says, “We wanted to keep it very exclusive. He wanted the reproductions to be just right. It took us almost two years to assemble these but these prints are everything an Akbar Padamsee work is expected to be. There are admirers of his works the world over but there are only so many people that can afford his paintings. The idea of giclée prints is to make his works more accessible. So paintings worth crores are priced at `1.5 to 3 lakh.”
The museum-like quality of giclée canvas paper printing is sure to make these works appeal to a serious art collector. The effect of a giclée canvas print offers the same
elegant look like that of an original painting giving an authentic feel of brushstrokes. Besides his
master works in giclée prints, the exhibition will also showcase some of his original works in oil on canvas and around 20
lithographs.
The exhibition is on from February 20 to March 4 at India Fine Art Gallery, Mumbai