After 1984 riots, artist explores human figures as landscapes
The assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the anti-Sikh riots that followed in 1984, was a turning point in the artistic journey of printmaker-painter Ananda Moy Banerji, who shifted from painting landscapes to exploring human figures.
In his new solo-exhibition, Human landscapes, Banerji has revived his lost love for landscapes and combined it with his current passion for drawing human figures.
“In my initial stages, I used to do work based on landscapes driven by nature. And suddenly in 1984 after the assassination of Mrs Gandhi, I could not recognise any of my Sikh friends because they had to shave off their hair. From that point in time, landscapes left my canvas and figures started pouring in,” says Roy.
Now, Roy takes inspiration from the world around him and his work is a reflec tion of present day society. The 148 artworks on display show the artist’s keen interest in the news, which he later transforms into landscapes
“I used to pick up news from newspapers and then used to work accordingly. My last series, His and Her World, reflected some of it and I have continued the same sentiment, but with a different perspective. In the process, I realised that I could see everything as a landscape.
“My landscapes are not connected to trees, mountains or rivers. I want to portray the issues, whether good or bad, related to human existence. Everything put together forms my human landscapes,” says Roy. In his artworks, Roy has brilliantly used the craft of print-making and combined it with conventional painting on canvas. He has attempted to transform 10 basic human forms to develop the works.
The exhibition, underway at the Lalit Kala Akademi here, also comprises of paintings from another of Roy’s series, Multiple Encounters. The show is set to continue till May 16
I couldn’t recognise any of my Sikh friends because they had to shave off their hair. From that point in time, landscapes left my canvas and figures started pouring in. ANANDA MOY BANERJI, painter