Jagriti Art

Abhijit Mitra

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I derive my ideas, style and taste from various sources. The fact that I am highly eclectic in approach, I subscribe them to my grey dreams - a sharp contrast between reality and romantic dreams. Even in a world brimming over with violence and aggression my paintings reflect a completely contrasting world of romantic dreams. This comes from a personal frustration against a world where people's dreams are being shattered at every moment and there is an abandonment of the romantic sense. There is no more a world of peaceful co-existence but on the contrary a world filled with conflicting people who are gradually becoming more and more self centered and cocooned. We are always running a race, always competing with one another in a never ending struggle to outdo the other. Society has changed from a communion of harmony that seeks the good of everybody to a system like a grinding machine that saps the life and energy and love from within everyone. I am in a constant endeavor to step out of this turmoil and step into a bubble, my own and isolated from all this. An open space of smooth sailing. This is the world of my dreams. Dreams that come to me not necessarily only during my hours of sleep but also follow me around in my wakeful consciousness, sometimes maybe in the dark of the night, sometimes even in the bright daylight of day. I prefer at times to bring out human figures on the canvas, especially images of women. I am extremely responsive to female beauty because of their rhythmic allure and mysterious qualities. As far as the figures are concerned they are figments and fragments of the critical and harshly strong realism of the present times. They are often placed in awkward positions to express my innermost emotions. Using the human figures as anchor, I apply vibrant colours like blue, green, yellow, gold, white and subdued tones of gray, brown, silver to create images that seem to float in the world of dreams. Frequently I use elements of nature, as symbols to create a further romantic ambience. Education - Graduated from Indian Art College, 1985 Exhibitions Selected Solo Shows - Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, 2009 Selected Group Exhibitions - G. C. Laha centenary annual show, 2009. - Unending procession of life an Exhibition of paintings organized by Akar Prakar Kolkata, 2008. - “Creartivity” An Exhibition of Paintings & sculptures organized by Jagriti Art Initiative at Birla Academy of Art and Culture Kolkata, 2007, 2008. - “Face To Face” An Exhibition of Paintings organized by Jagriti Art Initiative and Bahrain Arts Society at Manama – Bahrain, 2007. - An Exhibition of Paintings organized by Group-51 at The Alliance Francaise, New Delhi, 2007. - “Essence of Bengal Art” organized by Group-51 at AIFACS, New Delhi, 2006. - “Xpressions” an exhibition of figurative works organized by Master’s Collection Art Gallery, 2006. - An Exhibition of drawing and paintings organized by Jagriti Art Initiative at St. Xavier’s, Kolkata, 2006. - An Exhibition of drawing and paintings organized by Jagriti Art Initiative at Saurav’s, Kolkata, 2006. - State Academy organized by Lalitkala Academy, New Delhi – 2005. - Rotary Club of Kolkata Downtown in aid of Compassionate Compassions Trust at Akar Prokar, 2004. - Birla Academy of Art and Culture (All-India Annual) - 2007, 2005, 2004, 1990, 1986. - Academy of Fine Arts (All-India Annual) – 2007, 2006, 2004, 1988, 1986. Selected Group Shows - Group Show with Nijanta at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata –2007, 2005, 2004. - Group Show with Lupcult at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata – 1990. - Group Show with Momartee at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata – 1986. - Exhibition of Water Colour Paintings at Gallery AH-56, Salt Lake City – 1988, 1990. Selected Workshops - At Thailand – 2007. - At Bahrain Arts Society, Manama, Bahrain – 2007. - “You and Us Together” to assist Thalassemia and Juvenile Cancer Patients Org. by Gargi – 2007. - At Nagarkot, Nepal – 2006. - Chintamoni Kar Memorial Art Workshop Camp organized by INFAC at EZCC, Kolkata – 2007, 2006. Private Collections India, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Bahrain, Paris & New York City.