May 08, 2010 (Sampurn Wire):It’s no surprise that Ayaan Ali Khan is one of the promising musicians in this country. After all, music is in his genes.
His father Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is one of the better known Sarod maestros. However, what comes as a surprise is his interest is painting. Ayaan loves painting Ganeshas and even Prince Charles has appreciated this creative side of his.
“Prince Charles was a guest at one of our concerts and that was when I gifted him a painting of three Ganeshas holding a sarod each. He immediately said, ‘This is the extension of your creativity’.”
Ayaan has had an exhibition of his paintings in Delhi some time ago and now wants to hold another one to raise funds for the music museum in his ancestral house.
He says, “This museum in Gwalior houses some of the rare musical instruments of renowned musicians of the country. Its maintenance cost is quite high. So for some time now I have been thinking of holding an exhibition of my artworks to raise funds.”
Ayaan feels his paintings have become more abstract over the years. He says, “I think I do justice to the subject of Ganeshas. I have been inclined to paint Ganeshas right from my childhood but cannot pin-point a reason for the same.”
But sometimes his paintings take a backseat when he is very busy with concerts. “Art is extension of my music. When I paint, I constantly listen to music. I listen to my own recordings and that of my father’s,” he ends.
-Sampurn Wire
