'Into the Light"

Shastri Maharaj

My earliest memory of Shastri Maharaj’s art works were bold colours and lively brush strokes, these characteristics are still very much a part of the artists style as seen in his October 2014 exhibition “Into the Light” at Horizons Art Gallery. 

Sanctum oils 12x12in.

Maharaj is a contemporary artist whose consist theme has been the spirituality in art. His creativity stems from the understanding that creativity is unique to each person because it reflects who they are as individuals.

 Shastri Maharaj captures his spiritual journey through his life; his creative genius has been his ability to convey his message in so many artistic mannerisms such as surrealistic, expressionistic, abstract and primitive modes.

In this exhibition Shastri's paintings invite you to share the experience and connect with his visual descriptions. There are always people present in his compositions, “In to the Light” focuses on mature semi-rural hard working class mainly women. These figures are in landscapes that are clean, colourful, peaceful and immersed in the natural bright light.

The creative simplicity of this artist’s compositions showcases his brush works which are almost impasto and his pure, clean hues highlights the role of the old “tanties” of the semi-rural landscape which were a part of our culture. These traditional matriarchal “tanties” that grace Maharaj’s landscapes are a feature that is no longer a vital part of Trinidad & Tobago’s social culture.

When I commented to Shastri Maharaj that his works have changed so much over the years he mentioned that they have evolved with maturity, so his paintings in his 2014 exhibition show a calmer, serene and softer side to him which he says has come with age. 

Pasture Oils 34x28 in.

I think the creativity of an artist are those that acknowledge that change and it can be seen in their works. Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci, Gauguin and Picasso all showed their life changes and moods in their artworks.