Thoughts On An Artist's Life

By Akshar Tekchandani

An Artist, in the most literal sense refers to a practitioner of any art. Though most people relate the term to painters or sketch artists, it includes people of all art forms- singers, dancers, writers, actors etc.

Firstly, in my opinion, the term artist itself is an achievement or accomplishment. It can be proven by a simple worldwide observation. The very greatest sportsmen like Lionel Messi, Sachin Tendulkar, Michael Jordan, Major Dhyanchan etc. have been often referred to by commentators or writers as, “…oh, he is truly an artist with the field/court as his canvas..” and similar remarks. Legendary chefs, businessmen, negotiators, not-to-say even infamous thieves; have been adorned with this word.

Why is that? One may wonder. It is because the word, artist in itself carries a mark of respect, and a certificate of being innovatory and different from a long line of people doing the same thing.

It takes several factors to create the being called an artist:

हुनर की जिसमे इबादत है,

रियाज़ (mehnat) की जिसमे आदत है;

माना लकीरों की भी शरारत है

और सबसे लड़ सके है जिसकी,

गजब मगज़ की लागत है |

ऐसे ही नहीं कोई भी,

कलाकार कहलावत है ||

An artist is just a salesman, but of experiences. Thus, it’s not always necessary that he might meet happy ‘buyers’ or even just ‘buyers’ at all times. As they say ‘Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder’, similarly an artistic experience maybe free of cost, but it’s ultimately up to the perceiver to soak it. To this I say, You can buy the artist, but he’d be useless lest you ‘buy’ the art too.

किसी के लिए इलाज-ए-मर्ज़,

तो किसी के लिए बेकार हूँ,

समाज में अलग प्रजाति है मेरी,

जी हाँ, मैं कलाकार हूँ |

A common thing in the life of timeless, globally revered artists is the struggle. As in the case of any self-made personality, struggle and helplessness push the person to the extreme, from where he may slip into oblivion, or bounce back to become a legend.

बेवजह हैं चर्चे, सारे शहर में उजाले के,

ग़र न होते अंधेरे, तो सितारें कहाँ से मिलते !

Another factor worth discussing is that about the misbelief, “Crisis fuels an Artist”. Yes, a misbelief. According to me, this is only partially true. Crisis doesn’t fuel an artist. Like all people artists too need discipline, hardwork and punctuality, not just inspiration and chaotic spontaneity.

The entire truth would be a little beyond this. As they say, The eye of the storm is the calmest. In the same way, an artist thrives neither in quiet isolation nor in crisis, rather, he does flourish if and when he’s able to find his peace within the cocoon of crisis.

एक घुटा घुटा सा आदमी था, उसकी घुटन

का कारण था खयालातों की जूठन |

वह दूसरी की सुनता था,

उन का बताया सोचता था,

कहता था,

औरों की तरह बहता था |

What the above couplet conveys is the danger of lack of originality and conviction. One of the most important thing for an artist is to mix and match the colours in his palette and come up with new strokes of newer colours, both literally and symbolically.

There is a very specific reason for this. We must have noticed that in this world, some artists become great in their field, but rarer others not just become great, rather raise the level of their field itself, both socially and financially. In 1990s, an article was on each newspaper in India, “Amitabh Bachchan becomes first actor to receive 1 CR fee upfront for a film.” This can be called a level up moment. JK Rowling is the richest author to have ever lived, not just her early edition books, but even her scribbled notes, made during the preparation for the Harry Potter books are shared by millions on social media and even auctioned a few times. An old article described her work as, “Rowling has single-handedly pushed a generation back to the pleasure of reading, which it had forgotten”.

Improvisation is one step further to innovation, requiring certain maturity and bravery. Spontaneous innovation in a limited time with a minute presence of mind is Improvisation. It is a part of all arts, but more highlighted in on-stage performance-oriented art forms like- Kathak, Tabla, Singing, Theatre etc. It is what sets an artist apart from the crowd.

Not just anyone can do Improvisation or Upaj (as it is known is Classical Music-Dance). Only those who have mastered their art with hours of practice, learning, devotion to mentor(s), and single-minded focus, can be as pressure-free and calm on stage to improvise. For example- If a Tabla player has practiced his art for innumerable hours, so much so that on stage his mind is free and his hands are doing the set piece themselves; only then can he be detached enough from his own performance to buy his mind the time to think of something on the spot, while his hands are keeping the audience occupied till then. Improvisation also needs a carefree yet positive mood; a tensed and pre-occupied mind of the greatest artist also can’t conjure up spontaneity.

सौ रियाज़ की, एक मिजाज़ की..

सौ रियाज़ की गरज की, एक मिजाज़ की उपज की,

सौ रियाज़ की थाप, एक मिजाज़ की छाप |

The third stage is regarding what they say an artist meets the divine on stage. In a lifetime of Sadhna, an artist feels this exhilaration only 4-5 times. The feeling when audience disappears and faces slip into a blur, and the performer feels drenched in an overwhelming presence. Majority of artists experience this feeling when it is coupled with high levels of improvisation, as that makes the adrenaline flow, and spike of dopamine in blood levels. Some attribute it to divinity.

The craft of an artist is like a building. The foundation should be strong and long-lasting. After developing a foundation, if the artist wants to go on rising like a skyscraper, he must be aware of what to absorb, what to take and what to ignore. Not every good thing happening around should be inculcated, as it may be counter-productive to what we already have, our foundation.

After a certain point, the artist realises that he/she has been chasing after claps and appreciation so much that he/she has taken the easy path and stopped paying heed to internal ideas and hunches which may be experimental. The fear of losing what we have earned drives us, but there comes a moment when the blinded blinkered dash is interrupted, and the artist needs to revive his/her passion for following hunches and immersing fully in the art, irrespective of the risks involved. To be one with his heart, not audience demands.

छोड़ चिंताएं, दुनियादारी झटक ले,

औरों में नहीं,

अब ज़रा ख़ुद में भी भटक ले |

औरों के तालियों के पीछे दौड़ते,

बिखर गया है हिस्सों में,

अब तो यार सारे हिस्से,

दिल के ढांचे में पटक ले,

औरों में नहीं, अब ज़रा ख़ुद में भी भटक ले |

छोड़ चिंताएं, दुनियादारी झटक ले ||

After carving a niche for oneself, gaining respect in people’s eyes, and years of experience, the feeling of having some, yet working for some more, but most importantly, being above the insecurities of losing it all, that feeling of confident relaxation is unparalleled and what brings a good night’s sleep.

तजुर्बेदार भीड़ में चहकता नहीं ;

सिर्फ़ अपना पसीना है जो महकता नहीं ||

There comes a point in the life of each, when a student, a youngster, an apprentice or a protégé seeks help and guidance. The moment of realization, that one has amassed some knowledge which is valuable and sought by the next generation is a gratuitous feeling. It reminds one of his/her own teacher/mentor/guru and the way they led them on the path of knowledge.

आये थे गीली मिटटी से,

आज, कुछ-कुछ पक्के,

घड़े हो गए;

क्या जल्दी-जल्दी बड़े हो गए |

थे हम कमज़ोर पौधें, जिसकी जड़ें थे हमारे बड़े,

आज, हम भी कुछ कमज़ोर,

पौधों की जड़ें हो गए,

क्या जल्दी-जल्दी बड़े हो गए ||

Finally, what is my definition of a Truly Great Artist?

A truly great artist in my opinion has 2 distinct qualities that elevate him/her just enough from the great ones. An amazing artist is one whose performance, whose work makes you fall in love with him and make you into their fan. But a Truly Great artist is that who makes you love not just them but the Art itself. For Example- if a person watches an opera singer perform live and becomes enchanted to the extent that he listens to that singer’s recordings and goes to every possible show then that singer is great, BUT if the person is so affected that he falls in love with opera itself and starts to follow other singers too, read more about it, makes time for Opera every month, take some classes or encourage the children in his/her family to pay attention, then that artist is a Truly great one, as they earned a fan for the team, not just individually. Basically the latter convert a member of an audience into a knowledge and content thirsty Rasik (a knowledgeable well-wisher of arts, a connoisseur). The other quality I feel is that truly great artists never stop practicing and working. Even when they reach a stage when they can just encash their name, their career highlights and earn by making appearances or teaching or guiding etc., but still they keep the rigor of their hard work alive. Once I asked such a person the reason for this and they replied that they don’t know which moment or project or performance they will be remembered for, so they can’t take any chances and just keep pushing it till they have their strength and breath.

By Akshar Tekchandani