Daak Weekly: The Gifts of Darkness
The greatest creative acts have often emerged from the deepest pain and suffering. It is a wonder that the human spirit, when faced with extenuating circumstances, can choose to assert its voice and strength by transmuting pain into beauty, and agony into testimony and inspiration for others. Today, we explore the works of two Bengali artists whose delicate yet unsettling artworks reflect their sensitive souls, absorbing the sadness and darkness around them to create art that will endure for generations.
Ganesh Pyne (1937-2013) was born in Kolkata and attended the Government College of Art and Craft. Deeply influenced by Abanindranath Tagore, Hals Rembrandt, and Paul Klee, he developed his own contemporary style of "poetic surrealism," blending fantasy with Bengali folklore and mythology. A major influence on his art was the 1946 communal riots in Kolkata, which left thousands dead and wounded. During this time, Pyne first encountered death in the brutally slain corpses on the streets. Subsequently, death became a recurring theme in his art, appearing alongside other dark imagery such as bones and debris.
Bikash Bhattacharjee (1940-2006), fondly remembered as Bikash Babu, was born in Kolkata and grew up in a politically charged atmosphere that significantly impacted his art. His portraits echo the political chaos of his time and its effect on the people, giving them an air of uneasiness while invoking a sense of familiarity. In the early 1970s, Bhattacharjee painted a series called the Doll Series during the height of political turmoil in Bengal, where the Naxalite movement had gripped the state. In these paintings, a doll is used as a central motif, juxtaposing the innocence of a child's plaything with the violence and terror looming in the streets of Kolkata.
Both Ganesh Pyne and Bikash Bhattacharjee remind us that even in the depths of darkness, beauty can be found, challenging us to consider how we can transform our personal and collective struggles into a canvas for reflection and endurance.
Love,
Team Daak
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