There’s no limit to how forms emerge in art — through lines, colours, or the stroke of a brush. By soaking a cloth in colour and pressing it onto paper or canvas, or even by burning the paper itself. Sometimes it’s about pouring colours across the surface, or dipping fingers — or any object — into colour and spreading the pigments. Or through some other method — the forms appear; they are brought to life. But a technique, however inventive or unconventional, truly bears fruit only when the artist uses it as a means of genuine expression, of search or exploration—not merely as an ‘experiment’ for experiment’s sake.
In the works of the artist duo Sanjay Sawant and Sweety Joshi, the first thing we notice is precisely this: the forms and abstractions have emerged from a deep penchant for exploration, an instinct to ‘seek’, expressed in different ways—from burning paper to soaking it. These are not contrived ‘experiments’, but are ‘utilisation’ of various approaches, to churn the mind, memory, thought, and understanding, often in response to a sudden instinctual spark. These emerged organically in the course of creation, so they carry feelings and substance.
Sanjay Sawant: Letters That Never Arrivedb in painting, our first attempt to recognize, make sense of, or appreciate any artist’s expression is usually through the forms or images they create—or rather, that are created ‘through’ them. The artworks in this exhibition suggest that the methods or techniques Sanjay Sawant has used to bring forth these forms are, in themselves, revelations of the very essence of the works. They reveal that these methods were used to reach an inner stir, a swelling of emotion, some subtle ‘wound’ or sensation—captured with remarkable precision. That is what makes these works feel so honest. They impart some subtle realisations, certain sensibilities, layers of awareness.
Here, the search isn’t merely for the lost or undelivered letters—metaphors for memory itself—but also for those memories that were never fully registered. There’s an unmistakable sense that in the rush of modern life, if we never reconnect with our inner self, we risk losing much—perhaps the very essence of what it means to live. And what, after all, is the essence of life? To savour and appreciate beauty, to nurture sensory experiences, and when we are wounded, to pause, reflect, examine, grapple with it, and evolve. In these works, the use of mixed media is like a net cast wide—to catch bhava sthitis—the shifting tides of feeling and emotion. The droplets, perforations, textures, and the soft hum of colours carry echoes of our times, of bygone memories, and hopeful, spirited raginis that are yet to be heard.
Sweety Joshi: Lines That Weave Time and Space Sweety’s lines weave and entwine time and space in their own unique rhythm. With these lines, she seems to embark on a journey through emotional terrains, marking the halts and transitions along the way. Her lines reflect a deep, immersive commitment to her craft. And the ‘books’ they have created —veiled in indistinct forms hiding ‘letters’. These signs seem to invite us, suggesting that by engaging with them, we can also compose and read our own books. As we engage with her work, we find ourselves reading two texts at once—one before us, and the other nestled quietly within us. These inner texts, awakened by her works, encourage us to reveal their truths.
Another notable aspect in both Sweety and Sanjay’s work is the fragility of the material itself. Their materials are delicate, almost ephemeral—so soft, so breakable, they seem to say: “Handle with care, I might crumble at your touch. Observe us gently.” Of course, we know every effort has been made to strengthen the artworks and make them durable—but the look of the material evokes a softness, a sense of fragility. Because of this ‘look,’ a layer of sensitivity settles within us—somewhat fluid, somewhat crumbly, somewhat delicate—and it subtly alters our usual way of seeing. We must also speak of the beauty present in these works, a beauty that is wholly their own, not superimposed. As a result, our perception/appreciation of that beauty is of a very different kind—intimate, unforced.
Sanjay and Sweety’s creations reach out to the viewer with a deep sense of familiarity and warmth. One reason for this sense of closeness is the way the narratives—expressed through their forms—gently touch us. They awaken something unexpected within us, stir something forgotten. It feels as though something had gone missing from our midst, and now we too must search for and reclaim it. As we view these works, something tender, lilting and compassionate stirs within us—we begin to see the works, and ourselves, anew. Some human essence—some quiet truth—begins to awaken and expand within us once more.
Prayag Shukla
Poet & Art Critic
“CRADLE OF MYSTERY AND ECHOES OF THE SOUL”
Twin solos by Sweety Joshi and Sanjay Sawant
at
Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
20th to 26th May 2025
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