Even as a student I was rebel and followed my own instinct than the then prevalent trend of following the Western art idiom. While a student I used a lot of strong colors, it would disconcert the teachers. But I always think in colors and even today the same is true.`--- Gogi Saroj Pal. To her, the forthrightness of her expression is carved by the cultural identity of her own. The creative concerns of Gogi Saroj Pal are very much to her times, assimilating local, regional and universal cognizance. She attempts to express this consciousness through the creativity of her imagination in canvas. As she says, `I want to evolve and leave behind creative visual symbols as references to our times. I think in color and achieve consistent factor (Sthai Bhava) to accomplish creativity in my paintings`.
This multifaceted contemporary artist has expressed her creativity through diverse mediums like installation, painting, sculpture, graphic print, ceramics, jewellery, weaving and photography apart from canvas. Most of her works are based on women. Her early works resemble more realistic expressions; but over time she has shifted her concentration towards simpler, more conventionalised paintings that have a sizeable impact. Gogi Saroj Pal was born in 1945 in the small town of Neoli in Uttar Pradesh. She obtained her formal education in painting from College of Art in Vanasthali, Rajasthan as well as from College of Art in Lucknow. Her works are considered the `mirror held up to society`. It depicts the unequality in relationships amongst the sexes. They are projected to exhibit the mutabilities of a woman`s life.
Throughout her artistic life Gogi Saroj Pal has participated and conducted several exhibitions nationally as well as internationally, some of the worthy are-- in 1975 International Women`s Exhibition , New Delhi; in 1980 Third World Print Biennial, London & Baghdad; in 1980 14th & 15th print Biennial, Lubjiyana, Yugoslavia; in 1982 Bedford Print Biennial, England; in 1982 International Print Biennial, Cuba; in 1984 International Print Biennial, Trino, Rome; in 1985 International Painting Festival, Cogne-su-Mer, France; in 1986-92 International Biennial, Dhaka, Bangladesh; in 1986 Indian Graphic Print Exhibition in Finland, Germany & Yugoslavia; in 1987 Indian Art Exhibition, Japan & South Korea; in 1987 `Print making in India`, Exhibition shown in many cities in United States Compiled by Paul Lingren; in 1988 Paintings of Indian Women Artists, India Festival in USSR, Moscow; in 1988 `Work on Paper, exhibition of Graphic Prints by Indian Artists, Frankfurt, Germany; in 1989 Contemporary Paintings, from India, organised by Art Wave, New York; in 1991 Group Show Kunsthalle Maine, Maine, Germany; in 1991 A group show of Indian Artists, Lotus Gallery, Amsterdam; in 1991 A group show of Two Indian Women Artists, Schoo`s Art Gallery, Amsterdam; in 1992 Exhibition of Paintings, Bilder Aus Indien, Hamburg, Germany; in 1992 "To Encounter Others", An international exhibition of contemporary art at Kassel/Hann Munden, Germany; in 1992 `A Critical Difference`, an exhibition of contemporary Indian art shown at six art centers in U.K. - Funded by Charles Wallace Art Trust and British Council; in 1993 Contemporary Indian Art, Yokohama, Japan; in 1993 "Sihanvlokan - Red Saryu has Eyes" - installation in 8th Triennale, India; in 1994 Participated in the International River Front, Liverpool Festival - Designed and hoisted a flag; in 1995 Installation in the "Inside Out", an exhibition of Indian Women Artists at Middlesbrough, U.K., funded by Charles Wallace Art Trust; in 1997 Women Artists of India - a celebration of Indian Independence ` at the Mills College Art Gallery, Oakland, USA; in 1997 Exhibition of recent paintings at Kalart Gallery, San Francisco, USA; in 1997 Group exhibition titled ` Kali `, Tropical Museum, Amsterdam; in 1998 Exhibition of recent paintings at de Bijenkorf, organised by Holland Art Gallery & Gallery Foundation for Indian; in 1969 Oil Paintings at Delhi Silpi Chakra, New Delhi; in 1974 Water Colours at Triveni Gallery, New Delhi; in 1975 Water Colours at Black Partridge Art Gallery, New Delhi; in 1979 Graphic Prints at Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi; in 1981 Oil Paintings at Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi; in 1982 Oil Paintings at Sarla Art Gallery, Madras; in Paintings & Graphic Prints at Vithi Art Gallery, Baroda; in 1982 Oil Paintings, Ceramics & Graphic Prints, Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay; in 1986 Oil Paintings at Art Heritage, New Delhi; in 1986 Graphic Prints, Montreal, Canada; in 1986 Paintings at Chemould Art Gallery, Bombay; in 1987 Gouache` Paintings, Gallery Aurobindo, New Delhi; in 1988 Oil Paintings at Kala Yatra, Sista Art Gallery, Bangalore; in 1989 Gouache` Paintings, Kala Yatra, Sista Art Gallery, Bangalore; in 1990 Paintings and Prints, Westmount Public Library, Westmount, Canada; in 1990 Gouache` and Acrylic Paintings, Cymroza Art Gallery, Bombay.
As an acknowledgement to her talent she has bagged many accolades like, Medals at All India Graphic- Prints Exhibition, Chandigarh and New Delhi in 1978; Sarnskriti Award, Delhi in the year 1980; Fellowship of Lalit Kala Akademi, Garhi Artists` Studios, New Delhi for the year 1981-82; Fellowship, Department of Culture, New Delhi for the year 1986-88; Jury`s Commendation Certificate in the First International Biennial of Plastic Arts in Algeria in the year 1987; National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in the year 1990; l2th Cleveland international Drawing Biennial, Middlesbrough, U.K in 1995.
Gogi always attempts to leave behind her a bequest of images, which are a truthful reflection of our lives and the consequences that impact humanity. As she accentuates "I want to evolve and leave behind, creative visual symbols, icons, as references of our times, to bridge the gaps in continuity of our cultural identity, for use in the concerns & epics of our times". This explains Gogi elaborately. She has observed the world around her and this led into an intensive search of the soul, which helped her to enrich in materials to transform them into paintings of elaborate visual effects.
