Together now Painting

acrylic paint on paper This is an exquisitely intimate piece. Two forms address each other, with spaces in between. They are, at times, human forms; at others, the self in its encounter with itself and, at yet others, the self as it encounters other selves: things we all grapple with every day. Of tantalizing interest is how the blue clings to the inside of the white at points; the movement of the paint in its application and now in its post-application life is vibrant and constant. Whether apprehended from different angles or head on, it looks different almost every time. Roger Hilton, one of Darukhanawala’s inspirations (or ‘heroes’), once said that a painting can sometimes be best regarded from the side of one’s eye, almost en passant, and some of these small paintings are the same. They don’t always need a confrontation; they grow on the mind’s eye of the viewer, often when s/he least expects it. Blue and white are classic colours for Darukhanawala. This piece brings together so many important elements in his work – from, among others, the optimistic title to the meeting of the paint and empty spaces, the circular band and sphere and, perhaps, above all, the empty space that allows the painting and the viewer’s thoughts and feelings ‘breathe’ and develop, away from the incessant and often nefarious influences of the noise and speed of modern life. Dimensions above include frame (unframed: 148 x 105 mm.)