An artist looks back

Hyderabad: Bengal-based artist Lalu Prasad Shaw is one of the few artists to showcase his works in tempera, an emulsion consisting of water and pure egg yolk or a mixture of egg and oil. The 77-year-old artist is showcasing his works titled Solitary Spaces at Art Musings, Colaba till August 31.

Lalu Prasad completed his education in fine arts from the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Kolkata in 1954. His years at Shantiniketan too had an impression in his work. However, he started weaving away from his academic learning to create his unique style. Lalu Prasad says, “I was trying to get into the technicalities of graphic first but I find it creatively stifling. It was only later that I decided to experiment and create my identity through my paintings.” One will notice the traditional Kalighat Pat and Ajanta cave painting elements in his paintings.

The artist places huge emphasis on the physical characteristics on men and women, yet each character seems like they are surrounded in a world of their own. While the interpretations could be many; but the artist leaves it to his viewer to decide. Lalu Prasad says, “I look at my surrounding, be it people or nature, for inspiration. However, I’m not trying to put across a message here. I want the viewers to feel whatever the painting makes them feel.”

We ask Lalu Prasad about his reasons to use tempura and he relies on its timelessness. Each painting takes about seven to 10 days to be complete. Painting layer after layer to complete his masterpiece, he believes it is nothing less of lessons in patience. “It’s difficult during the rains since the paint takes more time to dry,” he states.

Lalu Prasad reminisces his early days when becoming an artist was frowned upon. However, definite about his decision, he decided to take “the road less traveled.” He says, “People still had their biases about art. It was the 1960s and the 1970s that we are talking about. Being an artist wasn’t the best career decision at that point. Besides, there was no market for art.  But I decided to take it up nevertheless.”

The artist has been a part of several prestigious international shows such as the British Biennale in London, 1970; the Norwegian Print Biennales in 1974 and 1978, the Paris Biennale in 1971 and the Asian Art Biennale hosted by Bangladesh in 1984.