In this interview with DAG World, Punjab-born artist Ranbir Kaleka talks about the process that shape his paintings, which are known for their highly charged, surrealist narratives.

“I start with making hundreds of drawings. If I feel I am quite close to what I want, it has to remain slightly beyond my understanding. If I completely know what I am doing, that I can grasp it completely, then I don’t paint it any more. But if the work seems bigger than what I can describe in language I continue to work on it. Then I put all the drawings away and I start afresh on canvas. This is the process,” the artist said.

He speaks in reference to his 2004 oil painting, ‘Boy Without Reflection’, in which he works with colours, light, dreams, perspective and depth. In the end, the work can be seen as a reflection of the subconscious mind, defying a clear, singular narrative.

Featured image from Ranbir Kaleka‘s website: Boy Without Reflection (2004), oil on canvas