REVIEW

“The Magic of Terracotta”

The first evidence of civilization in India dates back to about the third millennium B.C. where small statues of the mother goddess have been discovered. We find this very concept of ‘SHAKTI’ developed the work of ASHOK PATEL. The concept is post rayed beyond the realm of the physical, bordering almost on the abstract. He draws the inspiration from the depths of spirituality and his own experience of life.

A postgraduate from the faculty of Fine Arts (M.S. University, Baroda), he has worked on Terracotta for the last 10 years. He feels that his art has everything to do with his state of mind. His work reflects his struggle to develop the particular aspects of SHAKTI, finally culminating in a sculpture titled, ABHIDHYAN, done in a manner which to say the least, is enthralling. It has sometimes taken him a month and a half to put down an impulse on paper in the form of drawing, which he has often treated as a source for further development of his ideas. His early work involved the making of pots, masks and murals, which also depict various forms of SHAKTI. - Ritu Saigal   FEMINA: 23rd Feb. 1992 (Magazine of Bombay) Page No. 44

 

“The Solid Triumph”

ISLAND

“Ashok’s artistic Endeavour cannot be considered in the simplistic terms as it borders upon many realms of perennial and contextual realities and truths, concerning meaning and functions of ‘art’ and life. If this has any specific relevance and validity to the world at large, particularly in the context of the post – modern eclecticism and the negation of ‘uniqueness’ as a value of not much consequence, The case of Ashok is a pointer to a mammoth art world in the country, distinct from the most savant– grade artists/intellectual group(s).”

DR SHIVAJI PANIKKAR

 

“As I start to describe this mysterious and magical works, I find myself making molding movements in the air with my fingers, trying as I recall the appearance of Ashok‘ s work to remake them sharing how they were made drawn almost with clay. His sculptures are 3 dimensional drawings with subtle coloring which suggests the richness and the smell.”

DAVID CEVET

“Ashok‘s sculpture is robust and honest, finely crafted and deeply felt; it shames our obsession with novelty and sensation; it is a personal vision of human experience written in an international language; it is not censorious; it is not judgmental.”

RICHARD ATKISON – WILLES

''His sculptures suggest sensuous experiences.''

COMMONWEALTH INSTITUTE

''Ashok’s paintings and sculptures are woven into mystical meditation through music.''

NEHRU CENTER (U.K. )

''The work suggests how meticulous he is in devising fluid, poetic forms….''

DHYANESWAR NADKARNI