Self- taught artist presents paintings inspired by her father’s poems
We are more accustomed to hear the oft- quoted phrase “like father like son”, more so as part of the patriarchal mindset we live with. But there goes another saying which corroborates daughters as their ‘ daddy’s real pets’. And India’s daughters are more like their male progenitor’s beloved mothers. Quite aptly echoing this noble thought, here comes another apple of her papa’s eyes — artist Sumana Ghosh — who takes inspiration from her father Mrinal Ghosh’s poetry and reflects the same in her paintings via a vivid palette.
Most of her exhibited collection, except a few good drawings are based on an array of verses titled Ratrir Shunyer Prante ( On the Edge of Nocturnal Void) written by her poet- father. Explains the talented 37year- old painter: “There are two aspects to his body of works. One is temporal, often narrative. And the other, contemplative as it conveys some sort of intrinsic realisation, entrenched with a certain traces of philosophical content. See for any artist, constructing visual images out of a descriptive piece is way easier than converting abstract elements into a pictorial essay. A painting requires a firm balance between the two to absorb and present both in a perfect light.” When literature is put through a prism of art, then it attains a different dimension without diluting its originality. “It rather enhances the beauty and may perhaps add on something novel with the creator’s personal sense of aesthetics,” perceives Ghosh, a resident of Sodepur ( Kolkata) from where she runs her own studio too. She says, “I have tried my best to take this series beyond the purview of poetry and give it an individualistic spin on the whole. You know, any branch of art is like stretchable elastic with no limits to end with. The more you delve into it, further it deepens its discovery. It is like a ductile wire. But honestly how far have I succeeded in my endeavour, only my spectators would be able to tell.”
Currently, Ghosh’s seventh solo exhibition of paintings and drawings eponymously captioned On The Edge of Nocturnal Void is open for public view at Kolkata’s art hub, Academy of Fine Arts. The name of course is understandably borrowed from the title of her father’s poem. The display will remain on till April 6 from 3 pm to 8 pm at the gallery. Interestingly, Sumana’s seven year old son Arpan Roy was present at the inaugural ceremony to recite one of the poems from his granddad’s book. “The series took me roughly three years to complete and its genesis began soon after I designed the cover of my father’s creation before its launch in print. Browsing the pages and reading some of the gems on them had not only made me comprehend the inner meaning but also provoked me to paint the imageries that the verses conjure up,” she says.
The ongoing showcase comprises 25 paintings and drawings ranging from 8” X8” to 30” X36” in size and pegged at a price between ` 6,000 to ` 30,000.
Coming back to Ghosh’s creative ideas, her oeuvre does not merely constitute a cache of ditto illustrations of the poetry that she chose to work upon. In fact, her personal interpretations of some profound themes that the verses touch upon are also involved in this painstaking exercise. Thus, it won’t be improper to suggest that her works thoroughly explore an engaging dialogue between painting and poetry, thereby rendering a definitive character to the resultant output. This apart, contemporary issues, familial surroundings and personal experiences too influence her artistic psyche from time to time.
The artist writes in her catalogue introduction, ‘ To me, painting is a process of my expression of the reality that I confront both as a woman as well as a mother. Problems and impediments are boundless. But as a mother, I enjoy the pleasures of looking at life through the innocent yet insightful vision of my child.’ It rather helps her overcome the intangible and tactile chaos of life, she admits. “To every artist her/ his work is a way of resurrection or rebirth. There is no other alternative you see. And the same applies in my case,” she asserts. Transforming reality into fantasy, she silently enters the mystical realm. Her critics therefore rightly ratify that there is a clear attempt on her part to tacitly and understatedly gauge the pleasures, pains and mystery of exis- tence that in turn stands as the motto behind her creations.
Scanning her line of paintings and interacting with her, one would conclude that most of her paintings are done in tempera on canvas pasted with Nepali hand- made paper. While some are only tempera on paper. However, only one specimen is an acrylic on canvas. “The drawings are done with water colour and ink on paper,” she chips in. The self- taught artist further claims that “in absence of an academic training in art, it’s been quite a joyful tryst for me with the sphere of form, ignoring all kinds of set notions, standard patterns and pre- conceived structures to extract only what fits my needs and ability appropriately. I earnestly feel that failures have helped me weigh myself and find my way out of a whirlwind of coercive, opposing forces.”
Ten years into this field, Ghosh’s pursuit of the craft began with her debut solo show back in the year 2005. And ever since, the hardworking painter has been incessantly experimenting with various forms and mediums.