It all began in 1964. When a group of young, aspiring painters decided to take a huge leap of faith to expose their works to the art cohort of Delhi, little did they know that their act of courage would be the precursor to a formidable force?a movement constantly defining and redefining tradition, revolting against norms and stereotypes, and providing an insight into the condition of contemporary art in India. The Calcutta Painters began their journey a wintry January in 1964 and in keeping with the values and principles the group was founded on, their 47th annual exhibition opened this week at the Lalit Kala Akademi in the capital.
When the group first appeared on the Delhi art scene in 1964, they were hailed for their complete break from the traditional modes of Bengali art. The show attracted big audiences and provoked much commentary by critics and journalists. Art aficionados of the city paid their visits to experience the first ambitious effort by eight painters to open minds to Bengal?s modern art. Now, Calcutta Painters comprises 25 painters and three sculptors, each defined by their own unique style and talent.
Says Dwijen Gupta, secretary, Calcutta Painters, ?As a group we have always expounded on freedom of themes. We have never straitjacketed our ideas or imagination.? Gupta whose paintings celebrate womanhood ?aims at unveiling the inner pysche of woman while attempting to identify her beauty.? His paintings portray women who are strong, sensual and emotional; they represent Indian women, but philosophically his paintings embody the spirit of women.
A major stalwart of contemporary Indian art, Jogen Chowdhury?s paintings continue to trace his exploration for personal expression. They serve as a conduit between the artist?s desire to retain a foothold of his conscious times and his desire to convey his message to the society. Master of the line, of the ?Kalighat pat?, a traditional Bengali style that evolved in the state between the 18th and 19th century to represent the folk traditions, socio-cultural and religious milieu of the state, Jogen Chowdhury is an artist of our times.
The 47-year-old group did have an inspiring predecessor. In the ?40s Calcutta served as the birthplace of Indian contemporary art. With an aim to to break out of old conventions and the colonial legacy and carve their own path, and motivated by the Modernist movement, a group of like-minded artists formed the Calcutta Group that would set premise for artists that emerged later. Calcutta Painters have carried on the legacy of the group, continuously innovating and redefining tradition. They have ridden on the crest of the Bengal Renaissance wave that took over the state in the 1940s.
Tapan Ghosh, one of the earliest members of Calcutta Painters, says, ?Our motto has been to capture the changes in our milieu, to contribute in the creation of an equal society and also to keep our ethnic culture alive through our paintings. As a painter, I can translate my feelings through my work, unlike a camera which can only capture an object.?
In an exhibition of around 64 paintings and 21 sculptures, far more compelling are those artists who tried to convey a sense of place. Some did so in upbeat spirits, projecting an infectious joie de vivre. Others through moods that are crepuscular or lunar. However, all the works on display are manifestly creatures of the artists? own moments and reflect the multifaceted heritage of Bengal.
The 47th annual exhibition of Calcutta Painters is on at the Lalit Kala Akademi till December 28.
