Golmei Gandumpu captures the essence of dance movements in painting

Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba *

Painting of Gandumpu

Far from the madding crowd, at the small confines of his work set, located at the periphery of Manipur's capital Imphal, Golmei Gandumpu muses for a while before giving a gentle stroke with his brush to the painting he had been working on for weeks now.

The work which depicts a myriad of colours based on traditional Kabui dance is a series of painting the 43-year-old artist has been employing to create a signature blend of creativity, imagination, talent and most importantly devotion. Majority of his works captures folk dancers in movement thereby creating a distinctive style and treatment.

Once again, he seeks to create an image that cannot be repeated or reproduced by any other painter including himself. He reveals he does that by giving strokes that are sudden and instant.

Over the years, Gandumpu has learnt what is it that makes a painting so liked, admired and loved. The soft-spoken man says it is the portrayal and bringing into life of that characteristic feature that implies one's background and origin. He learned it from an art lover while in Delhi attending a workshop. On the first day of that programme, the art lover had expressed much respect and fondness for an earlier painting which showed a Kabui couple dancing.

After the day's event ended, Gandumpu took a stroll at the national capital and came across a worker pulling his rickshaw. The image was so captivating to Gandampu that he returned to his room and produced the image on the canvas cloth he usually uses to draw his painting. Later, on the second day of the workshop, when he showed his work to the same art lover, the patron was explicitly disappointed and resented.

Kabui children playing indigenous game painted by Gandumpu

A surprised Gandampu questioned why he was so upset to which the man replied that men pulling rickshaws was a common sight for them and provides no significant importance to their eyes. However, the Kabui dance which Gandampu had showed on the first day was something he had never seen, and thereby had left him mesmerized.

Gandumpu's working hours have no definite timings. He says it is invariably connected to one's temper and inspiration which has no particular moment. He often sleeps in his work chamber at home, and gazes on his work laying down imaging what extra stroke can be put in so as to bring out that elusive feature that painters long for.

Ever since he discovered he had a passion for art and realized it was his life's true calling, a young Gandumpu studying in Class VI enrolled himself at Manipur Art College in 1981. He followed the stint with thirteen years of dedicated training, honing his skills, till he graduated with a diploma of Fine Art (Painting) from Imphal Art College in 1994.

Since then, Gandumpu had never looked back. His life have been one of numerous exhibitions, experimenting with colours, deliberations with fellow artists and letting his imagination take form in the several paintings he have drawn. His effort has been duly recognised at the national and international level too.

He recalls three of his paintings were selected to be presented as gifts when the former Prime Minister of India and Sonia Gandhi last visited the state. Eleven of his paintings that ranged around 25, 000 INR were also bought by the former governor of Manipur. Currently, two of his paintings have been selected for exhibition in London. Gandumpu was one of the two painters selected from all across the country for this exhibition.

In 2010, he was awarded the VIII Manipur State Art Exposition organised by the Manipur State Kala Academy. It was followed by with similar wins at the 4th Annual Art Exhibition conducted by the Arts Society, Manipur. However, one of the first awards that have vividly remained in his memories is the consolation prize he had won as a child at the World Children Art Exhibition held at Korea in 1981.

Painter Gandumpu gazes on his work thinking creative ways of enhancing his works.

On the current state of painting in Manipur, Gandumpu opines despite the presence of quality and talented artists, the state has not made itself more prominent in higher platform. This he attributed to the financial condition of painters and the lack of governmental support towards the artists. He further lamented the ever increasing trend of commercialization by other painters which though originating from the need to earn livelihood by promising artists, has seriously compromised the artistic value of a work.

As of him, Gandumpu acknowledges he had been lucky to some extent. The father of one girl remarked he was fortunate to have landed a job at Doordarshan Kendra Porompat as an artist just after completing his studies in 1994. This made him to focus on paintings with much fervour and he didn't have to worry all the time to meeting ends meet for his small family.

Seeking to establish himself as an eminent painter in the future, Gandumpu however understands the sacrifice he has to make so to achieve his dream. Once when the devoted artist asked a teacher on how to achieve his dream, his teacher out rightly questioned him that technically fifteen years after completion of studies is required to become one but the more important thing was whether he has given up his soul in the art he so passionately loves. He was also told that he had to sleep, eat, and live with the art if he is to rise above his counterparts in the field of painting.

Gandumpu's passion is not limited to painting only. He says from an early age he was much enthusiastic of arts and films as well. However, his career in the field of film did not really take off. But anyone can imagine the calibre of this artist given that he was the art director of the critically acclaimed Manipuri movie Mami Sami.

The painter continues to lead his peaceful live with his loved ones, and is heading for Goa on August 1 to attend a 15-day long international residential camp at the coastal town.