The Tempest

THE TEMPEST

Solo exhibition of paintings by artist Ciby Samuel

There is a path that creativity follows, quite often we approach the journey as linear, as we look at time from past through present to future. But as many ancient Indian philosophies would delve into, the experience, the time and the space could be multidimensional; and somehow we limit ourselves to believing them as simply following a singular path. The modern idea of space-time continuum recently fumbles into this idea. Our sensual experiences often take these multidimensional trajectories, as we go into dark labyrinths of memories, while we are also in the present feeling-physically and emotionally, while we weave webs of complex dreams and might at the same time go into unknown sublime spaces. Can what we see be limited to seeing, can’t smells unknown give experiences never had? Ciby Samuel’s latest works take me to the tempest of ‘anubhutis’, experiences do not justify feeling.  

I daresay these are multidimensional, as it is very difficult to place Ciby’s works outside the classical pedagogy, yet they are simultaneously destroying the very idea of having any classicism. The current set of works are landscapes, are portraits, and are equally abstract. In the spontaneous brushstrokes dancing along the music that spirals his studio space incessantly, the colours and forms merge and submerge into stormy images. Begun initially as a search for ascetic lifestyles, his works now seem more like reactions to immediate sensual and transcendental experiences.

Art has meant a lot in history and does mean so much more in postmodern- its history, a reaction, an agitation, an activism, a bundled up expression of being, seldom beauty. Ciby’s works stand out in these times, when sometimes art simply is art. It cannot be placed on a linear timeline of meaning, and that's why for me it transcends into a dream flight or falls down the hole like Alice in Wonderland, or sometimes orbits the moon and makes seas go wild. Or perhaps it's like a comet that flashes its plumes and vanishes. For Ciby it is but painting, an act extension of his being. The title comes from my immediate reaction to his spontaneous work, The Tempest, which later I realized as poetic justice.

As Prospero says,

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

— THE TEMPEST, ACT 5 EPILOGUE

The emotions and swatches of colours, like water bubbles fly with the wind and vanish, his works set us free from any brackets of what art be like. It is like the bloom of flowers that fragrances the ‘right now’ and tells the story of the passionate nights of fulfillment and the fruits borne in the autumn. 

Snehal Tambulwadikar-Khedkar

Art Historian, Critic, Artist, Curator

Witnessing the art world for more than two decades, and having dealt with a number of young promising artists with a vast number of masters, today Indxart Gallery has taken a philanthropic approach. Having art connoisseurs connected in. Wide web across India, Indxart began in Nashik and in the post pandemic phase has been looking towards bringing great art to this city. I have always been in search of talent along with consistency and passion towards one’s own practice and Ciby instantly caught my eye a few years back. I have been looking at his practice for about five years or so now and have been captivated by his work.

I have seen Ciby grow immensely in his thought and in his physical expression. Many of my art connoisseur friends have been admirers of his work and I am proud to be the catalyst to bring them together. I see Ciby reaching great heights in his art practice, especially as he chooses to involve his mind only in studio work consciously keeping any other distraction at bay. I find it my mission to support artists like him, bring their practice forward while enhancing the aesthetic oeuvre of art patrons and art enthusiasts. I am extremely pleased to be hosting his first ever solo show, and here in our space at Indxart Gallery. I am sure that this will be a whole new immersive experience for all!!

Ruchir Panchakshari

Founder, Indxart Gallery, Nashik