‘BENGALI TALENT ON DISPLAY’

NAGUESH RAO SARDESSAI

‘Gallery Art Chamber’, Calangute is hosting an exhibition of paintings of young masters from West Bengal titled “The Bengal school of art”. This is the third show in the series of exhibitions organized under the ‘Young Masters’ series.

This exhibition has on display promising talent and potential masters on view. Each of the seven artists displays independent creative ideas. Stylistically not completely out of box, however none of them fail to impress on the viewers their quality draftsmanship.

Tapan Das, Subir Dey and Ranit Dutta work around formal concepts and in more traditional style. Whereas, Ashish Mondal, Jiban Biswas, kajal Mondal and Ranadip Mukherjee’s works are zeitgeist.

Ashish, Jiban and Kajal address the issues connected with the modern generation, generation driven by technology, fashion etc. Kajal’s works seem to be an attempt in black humour and plain satire with serious commentary. The viewer is expected to interpret the composition.

Ashish uses very mundane imagery in an intriguing way to evoke awe and complex reaction at the same time. He forces the viewers to get involved in his works. Ashish is either too optimistic or a visionary or downright critical. With science fiction type human beings connected and charged via cables as in ‘If This Could Be Possible’ or ‘Contact To Myself’, Ashish seem to mock at our overt dependence on modern gadgets which has fueled disconnect with human aspects.

Jiban on the contrary juxtapose the modern with the traditional. The two are juxtaposed to highlight the paradox prevailing in the Indian society. The paradox of a modern Nation accommodating the traditional wealth with complete ease. The enviable contradiction called India.

Ranadip’s single work ‘Durga’ on display is bold and matured.

Tapan’s mixed media works of boats and houses and Ranit’s watercolour landscapes and scenes of Culcutta streets, even though executed in a more traditional style call for attention along with Subir’s paintings of sadhus. Subir’s compositions are tight and strokes bold enough to catch the viewers’ attention.
Gallery Art Chamber is doing a commendable job of identifying and promoting promising talent.