The Sun has, since the beginning of humankind, always been focal point of life and the source of inspiration for many artists. Udayraj Gadnis, great thinker, spiritual leader and artist, is following this creative path by presenting his 'Sun Series'.

The Sun Series is a series of oil paintings on canvas, each one embodying an ancient mythical culture of this world. The series is rooted in tradition, but also works as an eye-opener to contemporary life. The paintings rise in front of us like a solid, invincible and immortal piece with a real presence.

Udayraj has executed each work with a formidable and painstaking precision, just by using paint and brush on canvasses. The result is pure energy, pulsating and alive, that has the power to mesmerise the onlooker, seduced by this vast artistic vision. His style cannot be cornered in one contemporary artistic current. Speaking of 'a faithful and profound vision of life' could summarise his deeply enlightened and transcendental approach. As a spiritual theorist and leader, there is of course an important correlation between his ideas and his artistic views. His paintings all have the goal to convey a deep message.

The central iconography in the Sun series is of course the Sun, but with a multi-layered meaning. You could see the Sun as a mere celestial body, or, perhaps, as the origin of all life, the central symbol of many ancient civilisations, the focal point of our existence. Despite the use of simple geometrical shapes to depict the Sun, these paintings are very complex and their multi-layered symbolism cannot be grasped in one view. After some time, you become aware of the pulsating presence and importance of the Sun. It is the beating heart of each painting, and the beating heart of our own presence in this world. A meditative gaze can take you to another level - conferring you a consciousness of the cosmic forces around. This profound communion or unity between the viewer and the painting, but also between the viewer and the artist, cannot be described with mere words or images. The purity of the Sun series reflects Udayraj's limitless capacity to think universally as an artist and philosopher, true to his Indian roots.

The technique used in the Sun series reflects many different elements: by using bright and bold colors of a wide chromatic range, Udayraj transforms the colors into a vocabulary that guides the viewer through each canvas. As a fact, the colors stop playing the role of mere colors, but function as a lead for the spectator. Gold is also omnipresent in the Sun series, conferring an almost sacred character to the work. The way he applies his paint is yet another important element in his work. Thin layers of paint are combined with thick impastos giving texture to the canvas and thus creating vibrations and movement. Also, some of the canvasses are unframed, so they can spread their energy freely!

This group of works could be categorized as 'monumental', as his paintings have a real presence, combining powerful traditional iconography with vibrant colors and painterly techniques. The viewer has the chance to experience the grandeur of ancient and contemporary civilisations, but Udayraj never imposes any ideology, reflecting his true nature -that of a mystic who paints!

Udayraj Gadnis is a superb chronicler of our time and age, and he understands that imagination is a central element in our existence. The Sun series is a mirror of life in all its complexity and intensity. On the occasion of his 50th birthday and to celebrate his Silver Jubilee (25 years of painting), this group of works form a pivotal moment in Udayraj's artistic career. These paintings express spirituality, drama, philosophy, poetry through a complex yet exquisite orchestration of colors, shapes and textures. These canvasses could well form a new alphabet, the 'alphabet of life'. The Sun as the only witness of time, giving us a glimpse of our immortality

Sophie Hong Clauwaert

Art Historian, England and Belgium | Master in Fine Art, Sotheby's Institute of Art, London, UK | Masters in History of Art, University Libre De Bruselles, Brussels (Belgium)