‘As an artist you have to dare, otherwise you won’t get there’
Artist Anand Dwarka started his career as an artist more than 20 years ago. His work is characterized by cheerful and bright use of color, images of nature, female figures and he often finds inspiration in his own Hindustani culture. His works are realistic and sometimes semi-abstract. He mainly works with a palette knife on canvas, which creates a typical relief. His artist’s handwriting is almost immediately recognizable. He was very modest and shy at the beginning of his career, probably because of his limited command of the Dutch language. But now Dwarka is a agreeable, open and cheerful young man, who shines at almost every art event. He talks to everyone, makes friends quickly and loves a good cold beer.
Characteristic of Dwarka’s career is that he dares to attract attention for his works. For example, he was able to present a painting to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. “I don’t speak Dutch well, because I didn’t go to school for long, but I think that as an artist you have to dare. Life is determined in a moment,” says Dwarka. He simply stood in the garden of Torarica for hours and waited for his moment in accordance with protocol. “That is a moment that no one can take away from me. I had in my heart to make the painting when I heard that Rutte was coming. And then it became my deep desire to give it to him. And I worked hard to make it happen.”
He still doesn’t speak ‘great’ Dutch, but that hasn’t stopped him from working on his career. He has now been able to do many exhibitions locally, but also internationally in the Netherlands, Guyana, Brazil, and other countries. “I think you have to talk to people. They call that networking. You never know what might come out of that conversation. I speak English quite well and some Spanish. Just talk to a visitor at your expo or just at Waka Pasi. You never know who you start talking to. Then you start a conversation with a random person, and you discover that they are into art and maybe even own a gallery. Or that the person does something with art and can open doors for you.” The artist himself believes that ‘talking well’ in itself is not the most important thing for him. “I ‘talk’ with my art. Art is blind just like love,” he smiles broadly.
He has now also been able to present a painting to Suriname President Chandrikapersad Santhoki. “It’s also marketing, isn’t it? I have learned that you have to promote yourself. People aren’t going to do that for you. You have to create your own advertising, your own spotlight.” In recent months he has been trying to work on incorporating new elements and materials into his work. “I try out new materials such as cardboard, textile and sand. You must continue to develop as an artist. You can’t stick to just one style of working. It should not be boring for those who come to see your works.” He believes that by being an artist, he is doing what he was born to do. “It’s not work for me. It’s creating beautiful things every day and trying to make the best of it. And hoping that others love it just as much as you do.”
