MD Deleep: Simple art, Deeper meaning

Graduated from the Ecole Superieure des Arts Decoratifs in Strasbourg France, M D Deleep began with studying workshop painting and then for three years was at the Atelier of Jewelry Designing. He began to grow out of the art of making jewelry, and wanted to explore the world of theatre for which he made a move to Paris. His first visit to India was in 1978 and was so impressed by it that he kept coming back. One fine day, he got to know about the dance form called Kathakali and was interested to learn it, so flied down to Kerala and never returned to France.

Now living in Kerala for the last 22 years, MD Deleep has become an artist who showcases his work through various forms of art: paintings, sculpture, furniture designing etc. During a visit to Hungary Information Cultural Centre, One World News came across his new work on Kolum, which was basically inspired by the culture of poor people. During a conversation with us, he spoke much about his work and his journey so far.

Tell us something about your art work?

Everything I do, I do on Kolams, an art-form of drawing that is drawn by using flour/chalk/chalk powder/white rock powder. Using points, the entire drawing is done.

I love making images of women through my own sensibilities and perspective. I got this idea from culture of poor people who are themselves artists and weave things for their daily life purposes like bed, chair, carpet etc. However, with the Chinese things coming up and various other developments, usage of such products have gone down and through my work I am trying to motivate the villagers to keep doing what they do and not lose hope. On the other side, I am also encouraging the city people to take up such things. My art-work is homage to the people and their undying spirit.

What does your art-work portrays?

Everything is significant and has its own meaning to it. My work portrays that we aren’t just humans; we are an individuals who have a part of art, culture, human, devil etc. all together in one body and one soul. I am not a musician, a dancer or a poet but I have a part of everything in me. I used to make paintings long time ago; I design furniture, sculpture and other things too. Some of my art-work is inspired by how women of south India braid their hair and through Kolum I have expressed my sensitivity towards women.

He further told us that how he believes that old art forms should never be forgotten since they are what we have become today, “I love history and antique but also connected with the modern and contemporary art.”

So, learning Kathakali was interesting?

My learning Kathakali was very interesting. It is an art which doesn’t allow you to make changes, you have to be very disciplined with your body and techniques and to me, it has given a lot since coming from a Drama background- control did not have any existence in me but with discipline I have control on my imagination, body etc.

So, what is your aim behind taking this exhibition to various places?

I expect to spread my understanding of India and my love for this country as well as art. I am not focusing on money but to share what I think, what I feel and interact with people to make them understand what is my interpretation of the art and to know what they think of it.