When Sufi meets Spiritual

We live in such times that ‘sufi’ and ‘spiritual’ are coined as marketing gimmicks. Therefore, to come across an artist, whose art reflects a sublime journey-- is surprising as well as rewarding. His works re-establish sufi and spiritual in their true meanings.

Satwant Sumail, a Mohali based artist, I met often at art shows, greeting the visitors with a shy smile, is unassuming and modest. It is only when you get to see his expressions on the canvas, the maturity and depth of his spiritual connect is revealed.

Sumail has bagged a rare distinction. Art historian and scholar Prof Dr Saroj Rani has authored an exhaustive coffee table book on his life and works.

The beautifully produced hardbound book Rhythm of the Soul Within Nature—The Art of Satwant Sumail (published by Unistar Books, price Rs 1195/-) is not just aesthetically rich, it offers deep insights into the artist’s inspirations and processes.

The chapters detail his childhood memories that inspired his unusual choice of opting for an artist’s journey; his creative processes; his relationship with the lyrical and rhythmical nature and their equally lyrical expressions on the canvas.

A chapter delves on the techniques and materials used by the artist in this unusually inspirational journey. The book is also an inspirational document for the aspiring artists who come from small towns and quietly practice their art--away from the spotlights and glamour of big art galleries.

In times when visual art has become noisy and attention grabbing—a kind of fashion statement-- the works of Sumail touch you gently, like soft breeze. The symphony they create with the nature and for the mind of the viewer is not just musical; it is nectar.

Sumail’s relationship with nature is intimate, yet he respects her boundaries. Just the way his relationship with his mother is -- intimate with defined boundaries.

Nature, to him, is not limited as a source of inspiration for art. With purity of soul, he forges a lasting bond of trust and respect with it, deeply explorative--in the tradition of Sikh gurus like Baba Nanak. The oneness between nature, the human soul and his canvas is evident in the lines, forms and colours.

His figurative works also carry a subliminal quality; a kind of blur floats between the physical and the astral. Renowned art-critic late Keshav Malik described his female figures as ‘angels.’

Sumail worked quietly on his canvas for years to earn recognition, that does not come with PR machinery. It has come his way through the force of conviction, perseverance and his unique artistic expression.

I particularly like his synchronising palette with the change of the seasons. In few frames, the play of light is mesmerising. Almost magical.

The lyrical prose of Dr Saroj Rani befits his journey as a painter of the mystical. A paragraph from the chapter Childhood Memories, about his association with the butterflies, offers a glimpse of his intimate bond with nature.

“…His fingertips, too, were captivated by the presence of the butterfly, while her vibrant colours stirred a rhythm within him, resonating with musical modes. These melodies arose from the rustling leaves, the flowing river, and the gentle breeze sweeping over the low-lying hills. Satwant Sumail felt blessed by an unseen power, calling him to sing of nature’s beauty…”

The foreword of this beautifully produced book is written by renowned thespian Atamjit.