Ashraf Gohar Goreja. Western and Eastern traditions

	Sign In Sign-Up

Fortune threw the artist from one activity to another activity, from one country to another country, from one continent to another continent. I did not dare to call guest of THE SECRETS OF PERFECTION Ashraf Gohar Goreja (b.1936) an American artist, because we notice in his artwork too many features of Indian and Pakistani cultures from where he came and too little American ones. We have a case when a man accepts European American spiritual wealth through prism of Asian perception and remains Oriental..; .; In this little page I do not analyze the artist's artwork widely. However, I would like briefly to represent my consideration about art school and to moralize a bit about Goreja's categorical credo: A true painter must be able to paint in every style known to man, otherwise he's just a craftsman benefiting from the faculties of art for his own good. Yes, Picasso could say such words too, but art world does not begin and end itself with personality of Picasso. We know that a lot of most serious, true and fascinating artists managed only one style, but managed perfectly. Every artist is an unique phenomenon, and it is risky to say that Picasso is better than Cezanne. Also I am not appreciate ironical Goreja's opinion of role of art school. In most cases artist without school is an amateur, a dilettante, a prodigal son. Why we are delighted with traditional Greek, Italian, Dutch, Chinese art, etc., with folk art of any nation? Because we are contiguous to great art schools, perfect styles polished long time by a lot of people. School is a treasure depository, and who ignore school is an unreasonable poor person. Decadence of contemporary art is related mostly with decline of schools I think. Though of course schools are not equal, they can be good and less good.


Keepers of the Lost Souls,
Oil on Canvas.

Manhattan II,
Oil on Canvas Board, 1986.
..

..
..

Keepers of the Lost Souls, Oil on Canvas.	Manhattan II, Oil on Canvas Board, 1986.	.. ..
.. .. ..	.. City at Sunset, Acrylic on Paper, 1986.	.. Teaming Autumn, Watercolor on Paper.