Aptly describing the various facets of Anurag’s achievements is his next solo exhibition at India habitat centre-Myriad Hues. Having known Anurag for over a decade, he never ceases to surprise me. He is one person who is constantly honing his skills, learning new ones and putting his best foot forward in all that he does. Anurag Anand, a corporate leader, working with a large MNC in a leadership position, lives out of a suitcase with his hectic travel schedules and more; nonetheless, he finds time to write, not just scribble but professional writing. As a reputed published author, Anurag has over 13 books in self-help, historical and contemporary fiction categories to his credit. Two of his works, The Legends of Amrapali and The Quest For Nothing, have made it to the final shortlists in the Crossword Annual Book Awards.
Just before the exhibition ‘Myriad Hues’ begins at India Habitat Centre (IHC) New Delhi from 10th to 14th September, here we are in tête-à-tête with the man who is a successful corporate mentor, artist, published author with an interest in English as well as Hindi writings, poet, motivational speaker and more.
Is playing with colours your latest passion or a newly acquired skill?
Anurag smiles. I have been a compulsive doodler for as long as I can remember. Painting, in a more formal way, was an evolution, and it wasn’t very long back when I could muster the courage to put my works out there for audiences to view and review.
What’s your muse?
I am enamoured of Indian tradition and mythology. This fascination certainly shadows my choice of subjects, writing or art. In my paintings, you will find an over-indexing of themes from ancient scriptures, epics and mythological tales. Indian history, art, mythological stories and their relevance in today’s context have always kept me hungry to explore more on the subjects.
How do you find time to balance all your varied time-consuming passions?
If one is passionate about something, it doesn’t warrant a conscious effort to fit into our lives. Fitness enthusiasts find time for the gym, and social media pundits manage to drop a post or two, irrespective of how tight their schedules might seem. Regarding writing or art, the situation is not very different for me. These are both mediums of expression that I hold close to my heart, and this love probably helps me strike a balance. Art and writing are catharses.
How would you rate your interests on a scale of 1 to 5?
This is a tough one. It is like asking a parent to choose between their children. However, if I am to rank, spending time with family will be a clear winner (5 on 5), my profession/ work would be second (4 on 5) – on the grounds of integrity and ethics – and painting and writing will be close thirds (3.5 on 5). To the extent that I can help, I also try to follow the same order for prioritizing my time.
Usually, an artist cannot do without one particular colour that finds its presence in all of his works. What’s yours?
Shades of blue and rustics earthen hues appeal to me. You will find me playing with these shades in most of my paintings. Blue also is a colour of eternity to me, a vastness to describe nature. Rustic hues also come naturally to me for the ground I feel all the time under my feet, its stability and oneness with my roots. For I believe if the foundation is strong, no storm can break you easily.
How much time does it take you to complete one artwork?
I like to work with oil paints and acrylics on canvas or paper. I decide the size of a work basis the time available at hand. Once I start a painting, I like to spend time on it daily and complete it in a few days/ weeks at a stretch. This prevents corrosion of the original idea and ensures consistency of colours and treatment. So, my work can be anything from 3 or 4 feet to 10 or 12 inches. I am open to commissioned work, but only in areas where I am comfortable. I won’t pick up anything I believe I won’t be able to do complete justice to. Just like the size, the variance here is vast too. My paintings range from rupees 15,000 to 1.2 lakhs, depending on the size, theme, medium and treatment.
What’s coming next?
There is quite a bit on the sleeves. Solo exhibition outside Delhi, and I am working on another book.