Chaitali Shome, OP
Charcoal art is a huge trendsetter these days and Odisha has its own share of great artists. Meet Subhamaya Biswal, a charcoal artist who is attracting attention, thanks to the innovative technique of his work. Orissa Post interacts with the young artist on charcoal art and its prospects. Excerpts:
How would you describe your style?
Modern surrealism incorporated with traditional style best describes my work. I have worked in every medium right from charcoal and acrylic to watercolour.
What’s your artistic stimulus?
Divinity, faith and traditional art turn me on. Whatever drives my soul I try to portray it through my art.
Why do so many of your works reflect the influence of surroundings?
As an artist I do look out for inspiration and surroundings often drive me to reproduce them through my work. My charcoal art for the animal series in which I have a calf and its mother received rave reviews both from critics and art lovers.
What do you hope to accomplish with your work?
I want to inspire more upcoming artists who are pursuing charcoal art in Odisha. Our state has so many great artists who are still living in the shadows. I want to set up an NGO for them which will help their art get more recognition.
You have completed nearly 40 camps and 10 exhibitions in the last two years. Which one of them has been the most memorable and why?
Both exhibitions and camps were great, but personally the camp for artists in Lucknow inspired me a lot where I got to meet many young talents who are in schools. Trust me their work has really challenged me to do more good work.
What is your message for upcoming artists?
Don’t hold back your art and try to be more creative. Always stretch your limits as art is limitless.
All praise for Subhamaya
Subhamaya is an in-born artist. He has made great progress in his creative life. His experimental style is rooted in Odishan art and culture. May Lord Jagannath bless him.
Raghunath Mohapatra, President, Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi
Subhamaya Biswal is one of my best students. He grasps things quickly like watercolor painting. Charcoal is his forte while he is versatile in acrylic and oil colors too. As an artist and teacher I do appreciate his innovative style. Recently, he has completed his one man solo painting show in Lucknow. His potential is yet to be discovered, but I hope he will soon discover his own creativity.
Manas Ranjan Jena, Secretary, Odisha Lalit Kala Akademi
Subhamaya is an emerging artist. He is a poet too in his paintings. I find his literary expressions and experiments with colours and concepts fascinating. Until now he has chosen charcoal and acrylic. It is too difficult to control charcoal on canvas. But through dedicated practice he is refining and redefining its style. My best wishes for him.
Bikram Keshari Routray, eminent artist
Feathers in his cap
- “TULI RE SRI JAGANNATH” (COLORS ODIA) AWARD 2016).
- LALIT KALA AKADEMI AWARD-2018
- STATE LEVEL OSACS PAINTING AWARD.
- TATA STELL NATIONAL ART CAMP AND AWARD
- INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION IN DHAULI ART FESTIVAL 2018.
