THE TRIBUNE - Chandigarh, India
01/05/1997 , By Nonika Singh
“Success is a tonic… Failure can be crippling”
GEORGES SEUARTE the great master of pointillism hand said: The camera can take photograph. We painters must go beyond that and capture the essence and spirit.
Diwan Manna, however, happens to be a photographer whose pictures transcend beyond mere capturing of moments. He asserts: “Photography is an equally independent art form”. In a world where few endorse this fact, Diwan has not only carved a niche for himself in national and international circles as an artist-photographer, but also found connoisseurs of art, willing to shell out as much as Rs. 40,000 for his `arty’ photographs.
Diwan, whose ambition to be a cinematographer was circumvented by a twist of fate, worked as the chief photographer with the North Zone Cultural Centre for a while. He has several awards to his credit. Among them is the All India Photography Award, AIFACS for the years 1995 and 1996 and the National Academy Award given by the National Fine Arts Academy.
In 1993, Diwan was a participant in the South Asian Visual Arts festival. His photo prints were exhibited at Wolverhampton in the U.K. He has recently returned after displaying his series which focus around violence in Punjab.
In between his frequent trips abroad, Nonika Singh managed to pigeon-hole him in his tastefully done up one-room apartment. His latest work hovers around death. Death is symbolically depicted through a piece of cloth, woman, child, birds flying and flowers blooming and decaying. Excerpts from the interview.
Why are you fascinated by death?
Death is a recurring theme in our lives. We all face death every day in different forms. I too am afraid of death, of the moment when, I shall be no more, yet conscious that death is inevitable.
What does photography mean to you?
Everything. It’s an extension of myself. I am what I am because of my photography. It has given me recognition. This puts responsibility on my shoulder. I am spurred on to better my efforts each time.
How significant is success?
Success is a tonic that rejuvenates an individual. As long as I don’t let it go to my head, success is welcome. I know constant failure can be crippling.
Did you always know that you were going to make your mark as a photographer?
No. When I was a child, my relatives thought I would become an engineer. I wanted to be a sportsman or an actor. Can you believe that for the first time I had a camera when I was 21 years old? I was then in the college of Art. After a couple of good pictures, I was sure photography was ‘the’ thing for me.
Isn’t it sad that homegrown artists need a certificate from abroad before we can acknowledge them?
This is a fact. However, I have been fortunate to have tasted success on my home ground first. Perhaps it is the people on the periphery who view others through some one else’s perspective. For them the image of an artist is more important than art itself. They were the ones to change their opinion after I was recognized abroad.
Has being accepted in an alien culture made a difference to you personally?
No way, except that I gained access to a different world. It allowed me a fresh insight into the vision of their artists. It was in Europe that I could understand why Seurate painted landscapes the way he did.
What inspires you the most?
Interaction with gifted persons such as Bhimsen Joshi is what inspires me. I hope some of their greatness rubs off on me.
Why are artists perceived as aloof, and an island by themselves?
This is because they refuse to tread upon the beaten path. They cannot possibly relate to people the way a person with a regular 9 to 5 routine can. Seclusion is essential for artists to reflect upon their work.
As a man whose work features the fairer sex so often, how do you explain your bachelor status?
It’s not planned but a matter of sheer chance. I do enjoy the company of women and have fallen in love and out of it. My women have always egged me to do creative work. But I don’t believe in the conventional arranged style of marriage. The man-woman relationship can be beautiful but also simultaneously stifling. I am not averse to tying the nuptial knot with the right kind of woman. She should be able to understand my need for my own space.
Your photographs fetch a fantastic price; does this give you a real high?
Money does matter. Artists are not born to live in penury. Poverty is not a pre-requisite for creativity. Yet it pains me. In today’s materialistic world one’s excellence and creativity is measured in monetary terms. Money is the final barometer.
What about awards?
Awards anyway are arbitrary and depend upon the discretion of a few persons. They are not more important than work. Initially I was averse to entering any contests. Even now I am thinking of opting out. I might get addicted to the nasha of awards.
Are your receptive to criticism?
I do value the opinion of those who matter to me. But I am guided by my inner voice. If the criticism is in line with my conscience, I do accept it and change accordingly.
How do you rate yourself as an artist and what makes your work unique?
I am a serious artist, honest and humble about my work. Art is an ever-moving realm. Artistic talent or skill is an ability to translate material into something special. Art is not mass production but a fresh whiff of air. My experiments with acting, painting and photography are unique and different.
Why are you obsessed with negative? Don’t the darker shades manifest themselves in your work?
Life has moments of joy and sorrow but it’s the sadder moments which make you wiser.
They force you to look within. I am using my work to focus attention on grave issues like insane, senseless violence. People appreciate my work and use superlatives to describe it. I would rather have one person come and tell me, “Diwan, I changed my way of life after seeing your work”.
Do you believe that art possesses the power to touch lives in a profound manner?
Art doesn’t have a direct affect but it certainly tickles the thought process. It does lead to self introspection.
Do you think you have arrived?
Laughs. Oh God, arrived where? Knowledge has no end. There are no dead ends in creativity and learning. To date my work is a constant source of wonder to me.
