Khanna, Balraj
Balraj Khanna draws deeply on his heritage, making art out of childhood memories and everyday events and embracing both abstraction and figuration. An appreciation of the folk art he grew up with in the Punjab is still central to his work - painted toys and kites have stayed a crucial part of his subconscious.
Forms of the natural world are commonplace in Khanna's work and the original title for 'Apple Green' was 'Lake in January'; the inspiration came from a pond on Hampstead Heath. The unique texture of 'Apple Green' is created by blowing layers of paint over a sand covered surface, allowing the rhythms of breath to add a sense of motion to the work. This texture is further enhanced by the application of string and other tactile objects. This technique allows the suggestive interplay of light and shadow, giving depth to the work, something Khanna is deeply concerned with and in this case could relate to the reflection of light on the pond.
Steven Burridge
Apple Green
1991