In his forthcoming exhibition, Soumen Das shows how nature and mankind can co-exist peacefully. He talks to Samiksha Raj
In the realm of Indian art, where human forms and divinity have always got emphasis, landscape took a back seat. In the contemporary art, where most artists have turned to mixed and new media, it is rare to come across a landscape dreamer who is able to evoke joy and mystery of an urban landscape in a manner that artist Soumen Das does.
In a forthcoming event, Rukshaan Art, in association with IIMPACT will be presenting the artist’s works in a solo exhibition titled The Painted Palace at Stainless Art Gallery. Deriving inspiration from the myriad Indian landscapes he has travelled over the years, Soumen has incorporated the interesting ones in his artworks which will be on display. Soumen has chosen to vent all his artistic passion in the pursuit of evoking both nature and man in a single breath without actually painting a human figure.
“Urban landscapes are the theme of my artworks. I have portrayed various travel experiences to Manali and other Indian locales which have taken the shape of my drawings and paintings for the exhibition. Sometimes the artworks evolve from the scribbles and notes of my travel and at other times I draw from my memory. Also, inspiration for a larger painting may come from a photograph that I may have clicked to which I return later. I like investigating and innovating my immediate surroundings,” explains Soumen.
As a painter, the artist believes in a deep investigation of his medium before he begins to experiment, for it is the medium which will hold much essence of his work. His preferred media are oil on canvas and casein (a fast-drying, water soluble medium derived from milk) on paper or canvas, with the love for ‘oil’ dating three years back. Soumen points out, “Casein is not flexible like oil but I’ve adapted the medium out of my inclination towards creating layers of paint. The texture of casein is something that I enjoy and try to use it unconventionally.”
The artist uses a lot of colours in his works which he says makes essence of his artworks. He has interesting stories to share. Talking about Still stay as once they were, he says, “A place near Junagadh and Orchha, Madhya Pradesh forms the inspiration respectively for the painting.” A landscape of empty buildings with trees in the foreground and an azure sky beyond compose this series of paintings. His paintings can be defined as something between representation and impression of the physical experience of visiting or seeing the place. His interest towards structures like temples, palaces and historic forts is quite evident.
Soumen’s landscapes infuse life into urban localities, sloping hills, seascapes and factories that loom out of meadows. He adds, “Art, according to me, is a communication with others. What I try to communicate through my artworks is that nature and mankind co-exist.
The relationship and interconnection between man and nature is the message that one can decipher from my paintings. My aim is to beautify present this whole understanding.” There’s one thing that’s clear, creating a pastoral world is never Soumen’s intention, for the hints of civilisation are always there, even in his lushly vegetated vistas.