Bandhan-Sutra: Vipin Singh Rajput’s Art of Emotional Bonds

In some of his works Vipin Singh Rajput uses nails to symbolize the bond between himself and his art, the connection among him, the surface, and the subject he is working on. Elements like copper wire, vibrant colors, and a variety of textures all find space in his compositions. Whether it is acrylic, crayons, or charcoal, he uses whatever materials he has at hand. Sometimes he uses elements purely symbolically, such as geometric forms, words, and motifs, as vessels to carry historical thoughts or memories that feel like extensions of his being.

He often feels that the conventional idea of media imposes boundaries, but he believes that art requires none. Whatever is accessible can be part of a painting. This belief was reinforced during the COVID-19 period, when he lacked both materials and equipment. Yet even during that long gap he continued to create using what was available, such as wood, copper wire, nails, and other everyday items. These materials gradually became integral parts of his work, evolving from mere resources into subjects and objects of his art. Over time he began to see these elements not just as tools but as companions in his creative journey.

In every form and texture, he tries to show what has shaped him: his past, his present, his surroundings, and his soul.

Vipin Singh Rajput’s paintings often draw from the places he has belonged to and the environments in which he has grown up. The sights and textures of his surroundings continuously influence the elements and media he explores in his art. He comes from Chhattisgarh, specifically from a small town called Khairagarh, known as a city of music and education. Khairagarh is not just culturally rich; it also carries historical significance as a former princely state. That long inheritance still pulses through every stroke, turning lived history into living colour.

Growing up in this atmosphere, surrounded by music, dance, and various forms of art, he found himself naturally drawn to abstraction. He experiments with new media and incorporates them into his visual language. Materials like cloth, rice paper, mixed media, and especially paper pulp have become vital tools in his creative process. Sometimes, to bring out texture, he burns parts of his paintings. This act of burning is not destructive; it is transformative. It allows a deeper dimension to emerge, much like observing the world from a bird’s-eye view. That perspective helps him blur the line between realism and abstraction.

Each color, in his view, has its own emotional voice. Colors attempt to communicate something symbolic, something emotional. Depending on his emotional state—mostly content—the colors shift: his red series reflects intensity and power, while his blue series represents calm and reflection. He has also used natural powders, soil, and dust, materials that remind him of childhood play. Each memory lives in his art as a quiet emblem, never a mere ornament. During the process of creating, he employs not only colors and textures but also lines, words, and other visual elements to represent his inner feelings and experiences. These small yet significant elements become bridges connecting his art to society.

Throughout his journey he harmonises with people, animals, and the rhythms of music. Music plays a crucial role. Its rhythm and melody influence his strokes and textures. Just as music flows, he tries to allow colors and elements to flow in his compositions. He connects this flow with materials like paper pulp, wire, and nails, letting them align with the same energy as a musical composition. He sees different colors in people, and those colors become his subjects. Their internal emotional states inform his creative process.

He gets inspired by the people around him—the way they walk, their clothes, the colors they wear, their expressions; all of it inspires him.

He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya. After graduation he moved to Mumbai to explore the next phase of his career. He spent about two years in the city. Then, thanks to an award he received, he had the opportunity to travel to Europe. That experience changed him wholeheartedly. He visited Paris, Venice, Rome, Florence, and explored renowned museums like the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, the Picasso Museum, and various modern art galleries.

Seeing in person what he had studied in books, such as the Colosseum, the Eiffel Tower, and countless other historic sites, left a lasting impression. He also discovered artists he had not encountered during his college years. One of them, Alberto Burri, became a strong influence on him. Although Burri was not a full-time artist, his use of elements spoke volumes. Burri’s approach pushed him to explore elements and materials in a deeper, more meaningful way.

This path, shaped by his childhood immersion in music and the natural world, continuously informs his work. Earlier in his student life he felt confined by the belief that painting was only about colors and pencils, but as he matured, especially during his time in Europe, he realized that true art reaches beyond the surface. It conveys deep emotional and symbolic layers.