For Raza, painting is the `artifice of eternity`. It is necessarily embroiled in a quest to transcend the realm of transitory, individuated experience in order to approach the sacred unity of reality. It is the Bindu, the cornerstone of Hindu philosophy, that serves this transcendental function in Raza`s paintings from the late 1970s onwards. He says, "It is absolutely primordial in its nature. When I paint the Bindu, I am...
For Raza, painting is the `artifice of eternity`. It is necessarily embroiled in a quest to transcend the realm of transitory, individuated experience in order to approach the sacred unity of reality. It is the Bindu, the cornerstone of Hindu philosophy, that serves this transcendental function in Raza`s paintings from the late 1970s onwards. He says, "It is absolutely primordial in its nature. When I paint the Bindu, I am aware that I am literally in the womb of time, with no disturbance of sound or sight and that I am creating a spark of divinity. I am not painting for the buyer or the lover of my art. I paint to go on a journey within myself. I am excited that when I paint the Bindu on my space - which is the canvas - in the solitude of my studio, it is an act of supreme consecration." (Vimla Patil, "Features", samachar.com)
Interestingly, Raza`s skillful manipulation of geometric forms ensures the optical impact of Prem Kund or "Pond of Love" is in keeping with its metaphysical investigation. The intensely colored, concentric circles seem to vibrate against each other, simulating a movement towards the Prem Kund that lies coiled at the center of the canvas. This black Bindu appears as a moment of utter stillness and timeless joy in a shifting world. The piece draws the viewer into an everlasting journey to the Infinite.