Piraji Sagara (1931–2014) graduated from Sir J.J. School of Art in the year 1960. The artist exhibited his works at important international gatherings such as Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil in 1971; Art Now in India, a travelling exhibition through Europe 1972-73; Exhibition of Asian Artists by Fukukoma Museum of Art, Tokyo 1979-80 to name a few. He was the receipt of several awards: Gold medal by Kolkata Fine Arts Academy in 1960 and 1961 respectively, first prize awarded by the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademi in 1962 and the a national award by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in 1963.
Piraji Sagara established himself as one of Gujarat’s best-known artists. His practice included painting and sculpting, deft with handling wood as medium he introduced and created several wood collage works. Sagara belonged to a family of traditional wood crafters and used this knowledge to craft his own unique voice. He masterfully balanced the sombre shade of wood by applying bright colours. The prevalent depth perception owing to the disparate colour palette was a remarkable feature because it enabled the final imagery to resonate holistically through the fragmented surface. He was inspired by the folk traditions of Gujarat and also by the creations of nature.
The Work Mithuna is a reflection of this versatile medium. From the strokes of knife, he created free flying forms, intended to be philosophical expression of the idea of ‘many souls seeking a flight across’ in the words of the artist himself. The semi-abstract clusters of flying birds or flying horses like some mythological creatures towards the sun are an improvisation of the idea of the ‘journey towards the unknown’. This particular work also embodies a traditional symbolism and is a powerful image of the immediate presence. The image of flying horses with wings are not only etched deep in the wood by the fiery tongue of the blow torch, but are further given an accentuation with stark passages of colour-red, blue, yellow. The strong decorative element in folk/traditional Indian art is carried forward in this work, but the materials and the method he uses give it robustness and physicality; like a sculpted relief.
Mithuna is the third sign in
Indian astrology. The Mithuna is equivalent to the
Gemini in
Tropical Zodiac. The only difference is that Mithuna is represented by a man and a woman.