At home in Hampi

“I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for” — American artist Georgia O’Keeffe

The magnificent ruins and monuments of the ancient Vijayanagara kingdom of Hampi, and its people, have been brought alive on canvas in a series of stunning, life-like oils, by Dutch artist Robert Geesink.

Robert, now in his seventies, made Hampi his home nearly four decades ago.

“I first came to India in the 1970s. After my initial visit in 1975, I returned to my country, and came back here again only in 1977. My first discovery and love was only landscapes, and I was in search of a good place to paint; and also live close to nature. That’s when I discovered Hampi and fell in love with it.”

“I found myself being drawn to the native Lambani community of Hampi and was deeply inspired by their remarkable culture – I wanted to paint the Lambani women, with every detail captured; their intricate jewellery, their fascinating facial expressions, and their sharp features. The Tungabhadra River is what gives Hampi its distinct landscape and beauty.”

“I married a Lambani woman called Seeta, whom I also painted several times. After she passed away, I remarried and stayed in a small village called Vijayanagara in Hampi. I have four children by my second marriage.

“Apart from Hampi, I travelled quite a bit in North India to places such as Manali, Rishikesh etc. for almost a year before my marriage. I wanted to live like a ‘sadhu’, so I decided to go to Girnar in Gujarat; I even stayed in splendid Mount Abu for four months. I also stayed with a one-eyed ‘naga baba’ with whom I used to sing and make music. It was great fun but in the end I had to make a choice between painting and life as a ‘sadhu’.”

“But once I got married, I stayed back in Hampi. Since then I have stopped travelling too much.”

“I like to use oil because it gives my paintings beautiful depth, and sharp layers. These days, many people ask me to use acrylic colours but I just want to stick with oil because I like it very much; I still use only oil based colours in my work.”

“The culture here is slowly dying because of all the fast changes around us, and it’s getting more silent every day. But I am lucky that I have lived here for so many years and am still admiring the beauty of this amazing place every day; this is something which will never change or stop.

“So I go on with what is here and still paint the extraordinary beauty here, which is so exotic and so different from many places.”

“I haven’t discovered any passion for painting in anyone in my family but they do love music, especially because I myself love to play the saxophone and make music. I jam with them very often.

“I have gathered many memories in Hampi with various artist musicians like Gali, who plays the Hapi drums and the didgeridoo.”

“It’s always good to stay connected with art. Art is the only thing which keeps me going passionately.”

The Tungabhadra, the rocks and ruins of Hampi, the colourful and spontaneous Lambani girls…what more does a seeker of Beauty need?

So the painting goes on…

“Now around 35 years later, I’m in the same spot, and I still can’t get enough of it. I’m now enriched by my four incredible kids, and my life in Hampi is an endless adventure.”