'Crickart': Paresh Maity's cricket canvases keep scoreboard ticking

DUBAI: The 'Cricket's Greatest Canvas' exhibition which, which recently came to a close after celebrating the marriage of sport and art, saw Indian artist Paresh Maity presenting his artworks on cricket.

- Muhammad Yusuf

The event was hosted by Art be a Part, in collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Gameplan; it also marked the first solo show in Dubai for Maity. The exhibition showcased 12 original works inspired by the 2023 ICC Men's World Cup. Maity's brush exerted itself to capture the passion and spirit of cricket through the works. The timing of the exhibition was exquisite: ICC Champions Trophy was held also in Dubai, where India won the trophy on March 9. Maity is internationally acclaimed for his diverse artistic repertoire, which spans over four decades and includes 88 solo exhibitions worldwide. Renowned for his vibrant watercolours, expansive murals and mixed media works, he brought his signature style to cricket, blending movement, emotion, and energy into vibrant, classical canvases. He fields Gulf Today's questions.

How did you develop an interest in cricket?

My deep interest in cricket started in 1983, when India won the World Cup under the captainship of Kapil Dev, who is my favourite cricketer. When I witnessed the match on television as a young boy, the energy and the excitement really made an impact on me and my peers. Since then, cricket has become an integral part of my life.

Why did you think cricket lends itself to art?