by Alexander P. Collins
former editor, Spontaneous Art

A. G. Goréja now meditates daily to achieve "spiritual enlightenment," after having spent the much of the last ten years studying the inner dimensions of the elevated-path and "becoming closer to my creator." He strongly believes that a true painter must be trained in understanding the psychology of human nature as well as the study of environment, literature, spirituality, and philosophy. Its noticeable that somehow parts of each of these elements have a glowing influence on Goréja's work, as thus have a healing effect on those who view it.

Now in his early 60's, figuralist A. G. Goréja is still creating exciting works full of energy and timeless fascination. His unique style and compositions continue to evolve incorporating his bold use of color, animated imagery, and symbolic expression. His narrative and sometimes surreal paintings have raised eyebrows and turned heads since the late 1970's when he made a sharp turn to the use of distorted figures. "The figures listen to me," he explains, "and I use them to express innermost feelings. I cannot depict mortals exactly as they are because their own personalities intrude. My figures represent humanity without being quite human, so I can manipulate them to convey what I want them to."

"My figures are distorted so that they can better express feelings of pleasure, pain, anger, and other human emotions than that of typical portraits. Their eyes, limbs, gestures, the fluidity of the lines - each have their own intimate message. For example - when I want to express the feelings of joy, all these elements fall into place."

Goréja's use of rich and vibrant color reveals his love for human and cultural diversity partly motivated through his wide travels to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. "Color is very important me. Take a look, the world is full of vibrant colors - the trees, the flowers, the oceans, the skies. Color is an emotional and psychological sensation - if the world was dark and gloomy, we would all be depressed all of the time. There would be no life. That's why my paintings are full of life with an abundance of different colors."

Goréja's art may seem to have whimsical side due to his use of abstract shapes and 'fun' colors, but his compositions most often reflect deep philosophical and literary themes. Paying homage to Danté in the 1986 work entitled "Danté Marries Beatrice in His Dream," Goréja beautifully illustrates the despairing true love story.

Danté, devoid all his life of his one true love, never publicly revealed his desire for Beatrice. Anticipating in silence, even after her marriage to another man, he ultimately disclosed his love after her demise. Historians believe that many of his writings were inspired by this secret adoration. By employing his graceful characters and rich hues, Goréja magically brings Danté's dream to life. From the noble spirits in the foregrounds to the well-wishers at the door, each figure responds seemingly to this high-time of celebration and flowing emotion and joy. Goréja's figures seem to possess a language of their own, enabling the viewer to communicate directly with the characters in the paintings, practically understanding their thoughts and aspirations.

In Goréja's recent work "Greed," contorted hands inherent to his unique style are stretched towards the heavens, grasping for the elusive and symbolic apple which makes a recurring manifestation in many of Goréja's paintings. We also see the same hands in the 1986 work entitled "The Hope" reaching for the radiant Sun. To understand Goréja's message, one must get a deeper sense of the components and visualize their inherent relationship to each other. The apple, the hands, the Sun - all have a universal significance. The apple symbolizing life or the beginning of mankind, immortality, and sustenance. The hands representing mortality, flesh, the humanity, and the human struggle. And finally, the Sun - the giver of hope, the fiver of the day, the heavenly body, the provider of light, and as Milton put it, "of this great world both eye and soul." The world can see on canvas, what Goréja sees in his mind.

Goréja frequently alludes to traditional theological themes such as his more recent "Innocent Temptation," the classical 'garden scene' with abstract images of man and his companion, confounded amidst diabolic and allusive presence. With a strong use of color and abstract shapes, the viewer is almost immediately drawn in to recognize the characters which seem to express lust, remorse, resistance, and temptation without portraying a natural human form. This same powerful vision is repeated in dozens of Goréja's paintings such as "The First Sin," 1986, "Expulsion,", 1986, "The Source of Life," 1986, and is imaginative series of abstract oil paintings titled "The Six Days of Creation," 1985.

Goréja works both figuratively and abstractly, which makes it sometimes difficult to categorize his creations. Having painted and mastered many styles and techniques, Goréja has in the past four decades evolved as a master of contemporary figuralism and expressionism, or as he puts it, "returning to the way I drew as a child." Goréja's work is a mix of complex themes and ideology portrayed with a hand of innocence and simplicity.

Born in India in 1936, American figuralist A. G. Goréja was raised and educated in London. He began painting at the age of nine. Goréja lived and studied art in London, Vienna, Paris, Frankfurt, and visited few hundred major cities and art museums around the world. A. G. Goréja's paintings are in the collections of notable private collectors throughout the world. He has painted over 600 paintings in oil, watercolor, and acrylic. With his charming personality, soft voice and gracious demeanor, Goréja looks and acts like a spiritual mentor with a universal message of peace and love, which is why his paintings excude the same message.