Even after seven decades, artist Phalguni Dasgupta still feels that anything that catches his sight and leaves an impression urges him to paint. By Riya Sharma
Precise strokes of water paint on a canvas is one of artist Phalguni Dasgupta’s forte. Even after having spent quite a few decades in the field of art he still claims that he is no master. “I still learn with every passing day,” he says with much conviction. While displaying his works in an exhibition titled lyrical Expression in the Capital, the versatile artist shares that he has never believed in following a certain style or theme. “I don’t have anything specific in my mind before painting, you can see me painting in the middle of the night as well. For me, anything can become an inspiration. So,whatever strikes me, I start painting it. It is about using your creative prowess at the right time.”
like many, nature has always been the central focus of his art. Dasgupta elaborates, “Our existence and physical well being is dependent on nature. So, I don’t think there is anything on this earth which does not have any component of nature in it.”The exhibition which has no particular theme, displays many scenes and stories from different walks of life. There are paintings portraying scenes from rural India, instances from Indian mythology and paintings focussing on the inevitability of death and birth.
A painting of a woman which barely had anything on her body with the caption, Women’s Right caught our attention. The artist told us that the particular painting represents the condition of women in the present day society. He adds, “It also represents the condition of our country which has no regard for women, and which breeds people who are indeed ready to exploit them, just like the dogs near the body of the woman in the painting.”
Dasgupta has been honoured with All India Anand Memorial Award for best painting but it was interesting to find out that a few years back he was mildly ridiculed for his choice of subject. He shares, “Once I tried to make a series of paintings on crows. I got them married, painted about their fights et al. But, then critics started calling me a crow painter. So, I stopped following a theme or working on one subject.”
Not only this, the acclaimed artist also feels that once you choose a theme, you try to take your art in that direction forcibly. He adds that theme-based art has to be followed in a direction. “Then you work on it, keeping all the necessary things related to the theme, which makes you lose your creative independence,” he said.
The artist who considers Turner as his ‘guru’ says, “I tried to follow the master watercolourist but soon I charted on an independent course. I started using line with water colours and developed a method to do my art. I would not sacrifice the transparency of water colours at any cost.”
The artists experiments with watercolour and oil which is evident from his exhibition. He plays around with brush strokes, mixing colours and sprinkles salt on colours. “The final result for me should definitely please to the eye. If it does not, I tear it off,” says the artist.