Hyderabad in prints

Sumanto, a city-based artist, is passionate about exploring the varied nuances of Hyderabad. His observations make their way onto his works, which reflect a lingering essence of celebration and festive fervour. The mixed media, paper works, door panels, canvases, and sculptures by the artist have been combined into a solo show titled, Beyond Horizon, presently on display at Shrishti Art Gallery.

Sumanto’s 3D works in fibre glass imbibe multiple excerpts that are juxtaposed together

Sumanto accomplished his studies in Fine Arts from Shantiniketan and Central University, Hyderabad. He creates vast, allegorical compositions in a vibrant colour palette. Embedded with multiple interesting anecdotes, he refrains from infusing into his visual story a single protagonist or primary form. Each and every section of his dialogue is equally important. Although the works are realistic and representational in their strengths, the subtle distortions and change of proportions grant them a beautiful stance of surrealism.

These sculptures of the vintage car, male and female-heads and Gangireddu (bull) contain a harmonious combination of architecture and landscape.

The mixed media works imbibe myriad, iridescently hued sections that are intricately rendered. The application is such that it lightly draws inspiration from reality and then instantly becomes free of the boundary of the physical world and exemplifies unbounded imaginary fields. The 3D works in fibre glass imbibe multiple excerpts that are juxtaposed together. These sculptures of the vintage car, male and female-heads and Gangireddu (bull) contain a harmonious combination of architecture and landscape.

Sumanto agrees, “I enjoy working with elements from natural landscapes and architectural constructions. I also frequently mention in my works, the popular emblems that symbolise the city, like the auto rickshaws, the signs of multicultural ambience, etc.”

Talking further about the present series, he discloses, “I love working in varied print techniques and processes. While the conventional method concludes with the print achieved on paper, I have tried to explore multiple possibilities by using those prints in my paintings and sculptures. I have tried to bring forth the idea that printmaking as a medium can be combined with varied other methods and a unique form of expression can be achieved.”