Fire of Creation

^{Fire of Creation is a vibrant and symbolic artwork that encapsulates the fusion of music, art, creativity, and perhaps love. Set against a fiery red-orange background, the painting features silhouetted figures— a boy playing the violin, and a girl painting on canvas—positioned opposite each other on intricately designed buildings. The music from the violin and the art from the painter’s canvas, flow into the sky until they converge into a vividly decorated, surreal formation, symbolizing the power of artistic synergy. Through this piece, I attempt to convey the boundless energy of artistic expression, where one form of art seamlessly breathes life into another.}

^{As an independent practitioner of art, I embark on a journey of self-expression and exploration through the brilliant world of visual art. My art is an evolving testament to my dedication to honing my skills that aim to develop and achieve a unique artistic style. It serves as a means to translate my thoughts, emotions, and insights into visual narratives that resonate with both myself, and those who encounter my work. I have always turned to art to communicate anything to the rest of the world – from spreading awareness, to expressing solidarity or dissent.}

^{I had been introduced to art at a very young age, even before I spoke my first word. Since then, I have been inseparable from my drawing paper and art materials, and I continue experimenting with visual art in various forms. While I may not possess the formal training in fine arts or years of experience that some artists do, I approach my craft with passion, and a thirst for growth and fulfilment. My art is an evolving testament to my dedication to honing my skills that aim to develop and achieve a unique artistic style.}

^{My work celebrates the spontaneous, the whimsical, and the beautifully chaotic. It ranges from doodling on paper with black ink, painting on pottery, stoneware, and glassware – to dynamic, sweeping brushstrokes of acrylic paint and watercolour on canvas, floors, and walls in the form of the traditional Bengali alpana style and wall-art. Other than this, I am always up for adding a dash of colour or a labyrinth of wild scribbles to basically anything you give me. My paintings and sketches convey a vibrant narrative with a controlled, but dynamic sense of movement. The seemingly random strokes and patterns evolved into intricate, interconnected designs help me reflect the kaleidoscope of thoughts and emotions roiling within my mind.}

^{Creating art, for me, is saadhana, and release. It is a way to navigate fantasy and innovation, allowing my subconscious to guide me to make designs, patterns, shapes, and symbols that carry personal significance. Many of my paintings take shape in my mind in waking dreams that span for days, and even months. When I awake with a painting that is usually close to being finished, I put my ideas on canvas or paper. The shades of colours, and brush and flow find their way onto the surface.}

^{Although much of my work tells a unique story, my creative range is wide, and extends across various mediums. From time to time, I revert to realism and Nature – its vast expanse of flora and fauna – sometimes inserting real elements into semi-abstract backgrounds. My watercolours and acrylics are executed in hues of brilliant colour and intricate patterns. No matter how many paintings or sketches I have completed, each one of them is still an experiment to me. My art invites viewers to engage with its imperfection, to find meaning in the seemingly random, and to rediscover the joy of spontaneous creation. I try to reach beyond myself by creating a mental challenge to combine materials that are unlikely to be combined, play with colours that are unlikely to go well, and ensconce spatial arrangements that are otherwise surprising – then turn these unlikely components into a finished piece of art that brings fulfilment to my heart. I generally do my paintings in A4 size drawing paper, and doodles with ink on fine handmade paper. For pottery painting, I prefer earthenware and ceramics. I have designed academic book covers and posters for international conferences for educational and research institutes that include Sahitya Akademi, Jadavpur University, and Ashoka University. I have also undertaken individual projects and extensively worked on the interface of narratives from the everyday in a pandemic world across rural and urban spaces. In addition to these, my poetry and art regularly appear in books and magazines, as well as online journals like The Fabulist, Livewire, San Antonio Review, The Passionfruit Review, Solstitia, Last Leaves Magazine, among others. I have also published photographs in The Telegraph, Kolkata, The City Key, and Setu. I recently won the “Best Artist Award” from KPR International (India, Bangladesh, and Nepal).}