There cannot be a better treat for an art lover than getting a chance to experience the works of five renowned artists — Jogen Chowdhury, Paresh Maity, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Avijit Dutta and Samir Mondal — in a single show. Titled Souls of Wide Walls, the watercolour paintings are being exhibited at Kalakriti Art Gallery. The paintings here touch myriad aspects of life absorbed from memory, history and personal experiences and contemplations.
Works by Sanjay Bhattacharya amalgamate the silhouetted form of Krishna in a graceful stance
Inside the gallery, instantly noteworthy is a landscape painting by artist Paresh Maity. Much loved for his luminescent watercolour works, this particular painting is an extension of his artistic genius. There is a unique play of light and dark on the canvas, where the water body, sky and shore blend together in a beautiful harmony. A few anchored boats depict the time of dawn through a soft and palpably tranquilising rendering.
Jogen Chowdhury
Two of the works by Sanjay Bhattacharya amalgamate the silhouetted form of Krishna in a graceful stance. The background contains a play of simplified, geometric motifs that break the space into a harmonious rhythm. “Water colours are a very sensitive and delicate medium and need to be handled with great proficiency. One has to maintain the transparency to allow the surface to remain vibrant,” says the artist. Moving on, a transparent and invigorating surface is manifested in Samir Mondal’s work. The artist creates a series of creative portraits with his gifted dexterity. A couple of portraits of the Buddha emanate an unsurpassable and peaceful essence. Samir, an artist who possesses maturity and sensitivity, allows the watercolours to flow naturally in some sections and in others, spreads them gracefully. “Watercolour is the only medium I work with, I love the way while working, some colour particles get settled on the surface while the others flow ahead,” he says.
Samir Mondal’s Buddha emanates an unsurpassable and peaceful essence
Artist Jogen Chowdhury is known for his continuous, rhythmic and energetic lines. The two sets of his watercolour landscapes in the show reinstate the artist’s prowess and versatility in handling varied media. The rural folk are also captured magnificently in his work. He creates a marvellous impression of natural expanses and figures through his bold yet controlled strokes.
Artist Avijit Dutta’s work brings forth old, weathered images akin to photographs from a treasured family album
Lastly, the works of Avijit Dutta initiate a strong feeling of nostalgia. His work brings forth old, weathered images akin to photographs from a treasured family album. The artist creates an interesting collage of images that are juxtaposed together to depict the bygone era of the royal lineage. Talking about his work, Avijit says, “I work with canvas as the base for my water colour work. The picture surface assimilates multiple layers and the process is similar to the traditional tempera technique.” The sensitive and thoughtful rendering seen in his work intensifies the narrative created by the artist. These hazy, yellowed nuances of the past have been appropriately titled The Private Museum.
