Septuagenarian enigma Durgesh Srivastava tells City Life magazine about her defiantly contemporary art.
You took a visual arts degree from Salford recently. Had you made art growing up?
I have been very, very interested in art from my childhood actually. But I didn't get the time, the opportunity to carry on. My husband died in 1974. I had three children to bring up [one since passed away]. I was busy with employment. Off and on I used to do things… but then I took early retirement for this purpose. My first degree is Psychology. My second degree is fine art.
Psychology influences the art in Under Pressure then?
Very, very much. My work is very emotional. Philosophical too - a lot of metaphors. Graphic prints, etchings, monoprints, collage all need some kind of pressure to achieve. But my work is about 'how pressure acts in life' as well. This is my own experience - a woman's experience which is felt all over the world. My media is not only the prints. I love a lot of media and use several to bring out my art. This is my graphic work. I do installation. I do paintings. It just depends. Sometimes I mix them. Technique is a vehicle but it's very important as well.
Is your work a merging of the Western tradition and traditional Indian art?
No. I have lived in Salford since 1967. More than half my life I have spent outside India. I started my art career here in this country. I also did my degree here. So my technique and presentation is very Westernised. But, at the same time, my culture, my roots, my traditional belief comes through. That comes through in my work as well. This is me as well. So I don't do old Indian type of work but contemporary art. I do contemporary art - and mine is very mixed. Also I started my professional career very late in life…
You must get some odd responses
It's true. I feel that the people, particularly the art community, are not familiar with the notion of a 73 year old Indian woman making art and exhibiting contemporary art seriously. For most people a person, such as me, is considered as an enigma. I want to be understood by the artistic and creative energies of my work, you know.
Under Pressure is at Central Art Gallery, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne until Saturday, August 3. Telephone 0161 342 2650.
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