‘The Wonder of It All’ – a master’s world unveiled

Sakti Burman's paintings evoke the look of a weathered fresco, depicting figures in hues that the viewer feels were once vivid, but are now faded. They transport one into their dream-like world, where the perspective and composition is often that of medieval icons. He uses a marbling effect, and employs pointillism to apply paint. Apart from allegorical and fictitious anthropomorphic creatures, his multi-textured works include self-portrait, on occasions.

Decorative details, varied textures and complementary colors create a phantasmagoria in his works wherein curious creatures, human and divine characters harmoniously coexist. Revealing his artistic influences and inspirations, he has stated: "My childhood memories are mixed up with the existing realities. In creative art, the role of memory is well recognized fact. In my case, that of a painter staying away from his milieu, memory is doubly potent in sustaining the creative energies."

Born in Kolkata in 1935, he lived in a small village in the pre-partition Bangladesh till the age of seven or eight. The terrible famine of Bengal in 1943 shook his little world. The way he grew up, immersed in art and culture as part of day-to-day living, shaped his tender mind. His mother, sisters and aunts created thattas, full of imaginary things, almost like tableaux. The vivacious village life, the hues of greens and oranges, pinks and blues, a streak of spirituality, and the Indian miniatures motivated him. He recounts, “My father never discouraged me to paint but he would have been happier to see me becoming a lawyer or a doctor.” But he was destined to be a painter.

Renowned art critic Ranjit Hoskote terms the veteran artist ‘a pilgrim of complex allegiances’, who takes the viewer on a magical tour where objects from the mythologies and ancient history merge into his personal narration, by overlapping past and the present, interior and the exterior spaces, as well as traditions from east and the west.

A retrospective exhibition of his enriching oeuvre takes place courtesy Pundloe Art Gallery and Apparao Galleries at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. It’s an opportunity not to be missed!