SVETA- A Spiritual Quest through sculpted paintings

Vilas Kulkarni’s recent works are sculpted paintings, which is not unpredictable from a sculptor & a painter. What is startling however is that they are all in White. Though strictly speaking, White is not a colour, but the manifestation of the presence of all colours - the complete energy of light. Vilas, is displaying 37 of his of his recent paintings and sculptures which are all in White!

His spiritual quest made him travel through the length and breadth of the country, over a considerable period of time, visiting places of worship and events like the Kumbh, where he encountered myriad colours. Colours on people, on their faces and on their attire , in their ritual oblations and in their festivities.

But, Vilas was to discover that the one colour that united them and their faith in the Supreme was White. Slowly and steadily, White started overpowering him and crept into his subconscious and later into his works. We can see that these recent works are a result of much contemplation and experimentation both with content and with the media. Vilas has used textured surfaces along with external materials to trap light and create shadows. His use of religious symbols and motifs, geometric shapes and the Brahmi script all amalgamate to produce highly evocative paintings.

Viewing these paintings ,makes one feel as though the epitome of peace and devotion is in front of us, to bestow visual and spiritual pleasure.

Vilas Kulkarni was born in Dharwar, Karnataka, in 1967, and has spent most of his life in Delhi. His childhood was spent in learning painting and sculpture from his father Dattatreya Kulkarni. He received his formal art training from the College of Art, Delhi University, from 1984 to and ’88. He was awarded the B.C.Sanyal Award in 1988, and Junior Fellowship from the Dept.of Culture, Ministry of HRD, Govt of India in 1992. He was also awarded by the Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar, in 2010.

He has dabbled in a host of mediums. In the initial years he created sculptures in stone, metal, terracotta, fibre-glass and cement concrete. His favourite medium for painting has always remained acrylic.

He has held twenty one-man shows and has participated in numerous group shows and artist camps in India and abroad. Apart from painting, Vilas has installed several murals and sculptures at public places and in corporate offices. His works are in the collections of art institutions and with private art collectors.

Vilas lives and works in Noida, adjacent to New Delhi.


Studio: #625, Sector- 28

School View Apartments , ArunVihar,
Noida - 201301, U.P. India.
Ph – 91-95120-4318910,
Mobile- 098-915-15143
Email- anita.vilas@gmail.com

White……..
White is light
White is pure
White is eternal.

White ……..
White is surrender
White is devotion
White is bliss

White ………
White is joy
White is hope
White is peace

White…..
White is real
White is truth
White is absolute

White ………
White is kinetic
White is constant
White is ever pervading
White……….
White is HIM……….

Vilas kulkarni , 5th September , 2010 .