Those who attended Monday’s event at the North Bergen Public Library were able to not only meet a well-known artist, but to see his artistic process in person.
Ajay De, a Mumbai, India artist, created a charcoal drawing in front of about 15 attendees. A collection of his depictions of Mother Theresa is currently held in the Vatican. His solo exhibitions have taken place across the world, from New York to Tokyo, Japan.
De spent his childhood drawing before beginning a formal arts education in watercolor and oil on canvas. He eventually earned a graduate degree.
“Suddenly I realized I should do something different,” said De in an interview before the event.
He started to use only charcoal, honed in on his knowledge of Japanese and Chinese art, and formulated his own unique style.
For years he only used black and white charcoal, but now uses “a little bit of color” in his art.
“It’s inspiring to see.” – Lauren Morich
________
“I thought this was fabulous,” said Rao. “You usually walk in and you see an art piece there and you say ‘Wow,’ but you never see that art piece in motion.”
Learning about art
“Wherever I go, people request me to do this, because I think everybody realizes that my technique is very unique,” said De. “There are very few artists that continue to work with charcoal, so I am one of them and people recognize my work.”
De said that because his work is uncommon, he thought it is important that everyday people, as well as art students, are given an opportunity to see how it’s done.
At the event, De brought three examples of art he is well known for, including his Mother Theresa and rickshaw sketches.
He then very quietly began to draw Buddha with his charcoal for about 30 minutes, first beginning with the eyes. He used only black and white charcoal and his hands. As his art took shape, many marveled at his talent.
North Bergen resident Lauren Morich, a library employee who works with the summer program, said, “I’ve used [charcoal] before in art school and it gets on my face; it gets everywhere. I like how he actually sculpted the figure with his hands. It’s like he is almost sculpting it, like it in a 3D form. It’s inspiring to see.”
Morich, a Rutgers University art student, decided against attending a Yankees game that same night so she could witness De’s work.
Morich said she thought events like this are important because they can show children the creative process and how the process is almost more important than the outcome.
Rao’s daughter Shibani, 11, was impressed. “The details were so close to what it would be like for real,” said Shibani. “I’d like to try doing that one day.”
Important to the community
North Bergen Library Board of Trustees Vice President George Bartulovich said that he had never seen anything like De’s artwork. He thought similar events, with artists and authors, should occur once a month at the library.
De’s friend, Seema Khan, who helped the artist connect with the North Bergen Public Library, said that she had never seen her friend create his work in person. He had given her art, and she had saved all of the little sketches he doodled while at her house, but seeing it live was something special.
“I couldn’t believe where he started and where he ended,” said Khan, who is a special education teacher in North Bergen. “It was just amazing.”
Sister Alice Marie D’Onofrio, the Principal of Our Lady of Grace School in Fairview, said that his skill was exceptional. She felt that events like this were important for the community.
At the end of the demonstration, De said to the audience that he was never much of a public speaker and usually spent many hours quietly working on his art. He said he always believed it was perfect in the end.
Most of the audience agreed, stating that his work spoke for himself.
De donated the completed work to the library.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.