An Altered Perspective on FN Souza's Figurative Art

FN Souza - A Life of the Mind

I had walked in one day because I had seen the golden nude through the rose-tinted 

window glass of the exhibition gallery. That was weird, I thought, seeing 'Myself', in a striking
nonchalant pose on a canvas, where one might have expected the guilt-ridden, bashful
Venus Pudica types, with a perpetual blush marking her countenance or the prevalent supine,
spreadeagled 'SHE' forms. They told me the famous and in other ways not so famous artist,
FN Souza was dead.

I was reborn with my contemplation on flesh and its fall, and it's resurrection in FN's art,

'till I shone again with the light of first sight' 

Great art remains alive because of its power to evoke a response in the viewer. The prevalent thrust in my writing towards 'critic as an artist' births new perspectives of existing ways of seeing. That Souza’s art contains the greatest social possibility is yet to be understood. An interdisciplinary lens on Souza's work opens portals to alternative perspectives, generating new dialogue on his artistic legacy.

Souza was definitely an outlier. Shaking pedestals of propriety, he rebelled to render radical art. Despite his innovative disposition, the priggish Indian sensibility disregarded him with Pecksniffian relish for his sexually overt portraiture, and racism and western supremacy pigeonholed him abroad. That this art legacy at par with Bacon and Picasso is still to find its place in the world art canon, propels his scholars and critics to work towards that goal. 

My endeavour is an extension of my personal journey and a deep connect to FN Souza's art. I bring my strength of an open mind, interdisciplinary reading and a totally fresh look at Souza's art and mind.

There is no denying, it's definitely an impressionist take, a Florilegia dedicated to FN.

The first essay is an introductory essay. The next four are based on his most controversial work in figurative art - 'The Female Nude'. Thereafter the essays focus on his Self-portraits, Passion series and other themes in his artistic oeuvre. I have completed 10 essays and I plan to write 15 essays in all.  

I thought it best to go with a florilegium so far. I was going against the grain ( established viewpoint of Souza's figurative art)  and building an argument towards a more feminist frame -  how a shift in my own consciousness made me see those emancipated women in his figurative art, an altered perception that unraveled a whole novel and radical definition of his art practice. 

Now that I am midway through, hereafter my essays will incorporate short story formats and an ekphrastic style. 

I also gave a talk on Souza at Fundacao Oriente, The Story of Space Festival, 2017 and the Goa Pavilion, Serendipity Art festival, 2017. 
I am gearing up to present my essay at Panjim 175, SAF  15th - 22nd Dec 2018 https://www.serendipityartsfestival.com/