Bengal’s political, social and economic history including the intense strife for survival that its people endured during pre-Independence period, especially during famine and later the Tebhaga movement, right up to the state’s partition, its cultural and literary history is marked with great turmoil. The idiosyncrasies and peculiarities of its people have inspired many creative minds to grasp the human condition.
Several talented artists featured in a new group exhibition at Mumbai-based Viewing Room in association with Patrimonio Gallery share their passion for the home state. What they also have in common is a preoccupation with the psyche of humanity, trying to assiduously portray it.
The collection features two distinct generations: the artists who began their practice prior to Independence and those who have continued to work well into the new millennium. The early generation of artists was greatly influenced not only by India's historical events but also the Western art movements. There was a dying urge to be independent in the domain of art and forming a new creative identity that was tuned to the happenings and trends across the world.
Among them, Prodosh Das Gupta as well as Paritosh Sen, the founders of the first art collective (India Calcutta Group), focused on depicting the life in urban Bengal. They developed an idiom, adhering to the precepts of European Modernism and also their own influences even while doing away with the naturalism and romanticism of rural India.
The prevailing political and social circumstances affected the middle class; the destitute found echo in the works of artists like Somnath Hore and Shyamal Dutta Ray. The distorted human form ably epitomized suffering. Each one carved a unique identity through choice of unconventional mediums, advocating novel idioms and leading a new path for generations of artists to tread upon. Artists from 1960s further delved into the human psyche, focusing more on eclectic and elite strata instead the history. Suhas Roy portrayed beautiful the female visage, whereas Sunil Das painted bulls and horses apart from eerie portraits of women.
Several talented artists featured in a new group exhibition at Mumbai-based Viewing Room in association with Patrimonio Gallery share their passion for the home state. What they also have in common is a preoccupation with the psyche of humanity, trying to assiduously portray it.
The collection features two distinct generations: the artists who began their practice prior to Independence and those who have continued to work well into the new millennium. The early generation of artists was greatly influenced not only by India's historical events but also the Western art movements. There was a dying urge to be independent in the domain of art and forming a new creative identity that was tuned to the happenings and trends across the world.
Among them, Prodosh Das Gupta as well as Paritosh Sen, the founders of the first art collective (India Calcutta Group), focused on depicting the life in urban Bengal. They developed an idiom, adhering to the precepts of European Modernism and also their own influences even while doing away with the naturalism and romanticism of rural India.
The prevailing political and social circumstances affected the middle class; the destitute found echo in the works of artists like Somnath Hore and Shyamal Dutta Ray. The distorted human form ably epitomized suffering. Each one carved a unique identity through choice of unconventional mediums, advocating novel idioms and leading a new path for generations of artists to tread upon. Artists from 1960s further delved into the human psyche, focusing more on eclectic and elite strata instead the history. Suhas Roy portrayed beautiful the female visage, whereas Sunil Das painted bulls and horses apart from eerie portraits of women.
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