Artist Statement

Joewin Joshua:      How did you know your desire for ART in your childhood?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.       I felt that I had a natural talent for drawing, so I had a thirst and desire to draw on the walls. In my house, I drew the persecution of the early Christians which I saw in a magazine. I drew many pictures and portraits on the walls of my house which strengthened the impartation of art in me.

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Joewin Joshua:      How did you know your desire for ART in your childhood?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      I felt that I had a natural talent for drawing, so I had a thirst and desire to draw on the walls. In my house, I drew the persecution of the early Christians which I saw in a magazine. I drew many pictures and portraits on the walls of my house which strengthened the impartation of art in me.

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Joewin Joshua:      How did your congregation help you in improving your desire and knowledge in ART?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was studying in St. Joseph’s College Trichy, there was a Priest named FURNIOR and he held art competitions for school students and I participated in it. I drew the portrait of Bharathiyar and I was awarded the silver medal. From that moment the Society of Jesus encouraged me in the field of art. After getting ordained as priest in Rome, I was sent to France to specialize in art. I studied in ECOLE DU LOVURE in Paris and also in another place called Motpanas. It was special to send a person exclusively to study art in those days. When I was a Jesuit student, I received a new interest from a Spanish Jesuit called Zawala who worked with stain glass and I learned the technique of stain glass art from Fr. Zawala.

 

Joewin Joshua:      What are all the books in which your art work is published?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      My art works have been published in national and international books, journals and in magazines. To name some books in the following;

1. Christian Art in India, Edited by Herbert.E.Hoefer and published by Gurukul Lutheren Theological college and iInstitute of Research, Madras.

 

Joewin Joshua:       Can you speak about your exhibitions (solo/group)?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      I had a solo exhibition in Paris, France. Group exhibitions at Rome, German Consulate and in St. Joseph’s College Trichy

 

Joewin Joshua:      What are your contributions for the growth of art in others and to the art community?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was a professor at Loyola College Chennai, I used to gather the boys and teach them how to draw objects and persons. Later, I found Loyola Art Club through which many exhibitions have been organised inside the College and also in the District Level. I had established LIVCOM-Loyola Institute of Visual Communication through which I introduced a diploma course in the evening College. Girl students were also offered seats. Later it was changed into VISCOM. I organised inter collegiate art club for all the colleges in Madras in which many students come learn art and sculpture in Loyola College Campus.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Who is your art mentor?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was studying art at Ecole de Louvre, I had a mentor who is a Jesuit, Fr. Andre’ Bouler, S.Jand later on worked under the guidance of Henri Goetz.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Unforgettable memories with your mentor.

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      My mentor was a Jesuit called Fr. Andre’ Bouler who was an abstract artist. He was also an expressionist. He is also very humorous and he drew the cartoons of Jesuit Fathers in the community where I lived. I was very much inspired by him. He is an optimist and always a happy person.

 

Joewin Joshua:      “Art is meant to express”. Your unforgettable expression about your art.

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      Whenever I get inspiration to draw I do it. Thus I express my desire about art. I am not worried about selling my art but went on producing paintings to express myself and later I began sharing my paintings.My unforgettable expression of art could be found in the series called “THE OUR FATHER”.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Can you speak about ECOLE DE L’ ART and could you narrate it?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      ECOLE DE L’ ART was part of the LOVURE museum. Whenever we enter ECOLE DE L’ ART we were immensely inspired by the great masters of the world. As we walked through the corridors to reach the ECOLE DE L’ ART , we encountered paintings and sculptures of great artists around the globe. This was a great education for us. We had lot of group interactions with the students and we also imitate the paintings of the world masters.

 

Joewin Joshua:      As a priest how do you find it comfortable when Nudism is taught as a lesson in art?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      In the beginning it was quiet embarrassing for me. As I continued to draw, nudism is an object for me to admire. Because in nudism, the mountains, rivers and collectively the whole nature is represented. Therefore, when we apot nudism, it helps us to have our own originality as we evolve through it.

 

Joewin Joshua:      What inspired you to do the Art Series on different themes?

I am very much inspired to draw when I read the Bible and also when I am exposed to the art productions of different artists. Thus, I develop inspiration to do my painting series on various themes like “THE OUR FATHER” series, “MADONNA AND CHILD” series and so on.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Have your art healed you?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I got arthritis, I was immobile and could not travel around. I could not reconcile myself with that situation and I was almost in a depression due to lack of proper sleep. In order to find a healing for my depression, I started sketching every afternoon for 50 days which gave me healing in overcoming the tough times.

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Joewin Joshua:      You have spend so many years for art, is it worth investing so many years?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      I am not a full time artist, because I was also a Professor of English and later on a preacher. As matter of fact, Art cannot be a side business. If you are committed to art, then you have to be a full time artist, only then your full potential will be manifested to the world.

 

​Joewin Joshua:      How did your congregation help you in improving your desire and knowledge in ART?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was studying in St. Joseph’s College Trichy, there was a Priest named FURNIOR and he held art competitions for school students and I participated in it. I drew the portrait of Bharathiyar and I was awarded the silver medal. From that moment the Society of Jesus encouraged me in the field of art. After getting ordained as priest in Rome, I was sent to France to specialize in art. I studied in ECOLE DU LOVURE in Paris and also in another place called Motpanas. It was special to send a person exclusively to study art in those days. When I was a Jesuit student, I received a new interest from a Spanish Jesuit called Zawala who worked with stain glass and I learned the technique of stain glass art from Fr. Zawala.

 

Joewin Joshua:      What are all the books in which your art work is published?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      My art works have been published in national and international books, journals and in magazines. To name some books in the following;

Christian Art in India, Edited by Herbert.E.Hoefer and published by Gurukul Lutheren Theological college and iInstitute of Research, Madras.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Can you speak about your exhibitions (solo/group)?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      I had a solo exhibition in Paris, France. Group exhibitions at Rome, German Consulate and in St. Joseph’s College Trichy

 

Joewin Joshua:      What are your contributions for the growth of art in others and to the art community?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was a professor at Loyola College Chennai, I used to gather the boys and teach them how to draw objects and persons. Later, I found Loyola Art Club through which many exhibitions have been organised inside the College and also in the District Level. I had established LIVCOM-Loyola Institute of Visual Communication through which I introduced a diploma course in the evening College. Girl students were also offered seats. Later it was changed into VISCOM. I organised inter collegiate art club for all the colleges in Madras in which many students come learn art and sculpture in Loyola College Campus.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Who is your art mentor?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      When I was studying art at Ecole de Louvre, I had a mentor who is a Jesuit, Fr. Andre’ Bouler, S.Jand later on worked under the guidance of Henri Goetz.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Unforgettable memories with your mentor.

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      My mentor was a Jesuit called Fr. Andre’ Bouler who was an abstract artist. He was also an expressionist. He is also very humorous and he drew the cartoons of Jesuit Fathers in the community where I lived. I was very much inspired by him. He is an optimist and always a happy person.

 

Joewin Joshua:      “Art is meant to express”. Your unforgettable expression about your art.

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      Whenever I get inspiration to draw I do it. Thus I express my desire about art. I am not worried about selling my art but went on producing paintings to express myself and later I began sharing my paintings.My unforgettable expression of art could be found in the series called “THE OUR FATHER”.

​

Joewin Joshua:       As a priest how do you find it comfortable when Nudism is taught as a lesson in art?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.      In the beginning it was quiet embarrassing for me. As I continued to draw, nudism is an object for me to admire. Because in nudism, the mountains, rivers and collectively the whole nature is represented. Therefore, when we apot nudism, it helps us to have our own originality as we evolve through it.

 

Joewin Joshua:      What inspired you to do the Art Series on different themes?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.     I am very much inspired to draw when I read the Bible and also when I am exposed to the art productions of different artists. Thus, I develop inspiration to do my painting series on various themes like “THE OUR FATHER” series, “MADONNA AND CHILD” series and so on.

 

Joewin Joshua:      Have your art healed you?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.     When I got arthritis, I was immobile and could not travel around. I could not reconcile myself with that situation and I was almost in a depression due to lack of proper sleep. In order to find a healing for my depression, I started sketching every afternoon for 50 days which gave me healing in overcoming the tough times.

​

Joewin Joshua:      You have spend so many years for art, is it worth investing so many years?

Fr. A.J. Thamburaj, S.J.     I am not a full time artist, because I was also a Professor of English and later on a preacher. As matter of fact, Art cannot be a side business. If you are committed to art, then you have to be a full time artist, only then your full potential will be manifested to the world.

 

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