monalisa patsani, post news network, Bhubaneswar, July 4: All of us are aware of Leonardo Di Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’. Many wannabe greats have fallen in love and have tried to recreate that mystic smile, which has made the young lady a dream creation of artists of all times.
A local painter working from his studios in Ekamra Haat, has given an Indian twist to the timeless creation. And no lesser a person than the then President of India Pratibha Patil appreciated it. Chintamani Biswal’s Indian ‘Mona Lisa’, resplendent in desi attire and ethnic jewelleries, so stole the heart of the President that she bought it for Rs 60,000. She was the first buyer of the Indian ‘Mona Lisa’. The painter has, till date, created more than 100 such paintings, which have been widely appreciated in India and abroad.
The idea of Desi Mona Lisa
“The idea of Indian Mona Lisa came during an art camp held at New Delhi in 2007. I was very curious to know how Mona Lisa of Leonardo Di Vinci would look, if she were an Indian woman. I experimented with the idea and made a life size painting of 6’x 3’’, which received huge appreciation during the camp. I used the original concept of the Mona Lisa painting and gave it an Indian look. I used sari instead of a gown and decorated her with traditional jewelleries.
“The painting became so popular that former president Pratibha Patil was the first person to purchase it. That time I sold it for Rs 60,000. After that I made more than 100 paintings with same style which received huge appreciation from everywhere. My last painting of Mona Lisa is now exhibited in a painting exhibition in New Delhi,” Chintamani said.
The artist, who arrived in the city with just Rs156 in his pocket, and now is a well established painter with a studio in Ekamra Haat, is also an actor, poet and a singer. A student of BK College of Art and Craft, he is currently doing his PhD in Orissa folk art (Jhuti) from the Utkal University of Culture.
The Gita Govinda days
Chintamani became a known face in the art arena in the year 2003, after he created 130 paintings based on the Gita Govinda of Jaidev. “I am a god-loving fellow; during my days of struggle I was attracted towards spiritualism. I decided to make paintings based on excerpts from Gita Govinda. 2003 was the turning point in my life. I made around 130 paintings on Gita Govinda and exhibited them in different exhibitions all over the country. Those paintings gave me an identity and people started recognising me.
“The paintings on Jaidev were so popular that art lovers from Russia, Australia, Scotland, Dubai and other countries bought them. I still remember one Russian lady, who especially asked for the paintings on Gita Govinda and purchased some of those,” the artist recalled.
In fact a portrait of Jaidev created by Chintamani has been accepted by the state government as Jaidev’s official portrait and is used during every function related to the great poet.
Chintamani spends most of his working hours at his studio in the Ekamra Haat. However, when he is not busy with his paints and brushes, he acts in tele serials. That though happens occasionally. Paintings of this professional artist have a price tag ranging between Rs5000 and Rs3 lakhs. “Painting is my passion. Every day I make something. Art is my life; I can’t imagine a day without painting,” the artist said.
The Legacy continues
Speaking about his father, Ballavananda Biswal, who was a farmer and folk artist, Chintamnai said, “My father was an all-rounder. He was a craftsman and musician. Since childhood, I have seen colours and brushes around me and I think that motivated me to take up painting. I took it as a challenge to do better than my father and to make a place in the world of colours.”
Blue is Chintamani’s favourite colour, which he has used in most his paintings. “Blue for me represents lord Krishna. It is my favourite colour, which I feel gives a spiritual touch to my paintings.”
He also runs an art and craft institute ‘Kalapataru’. “I love to spend my time in my studio amidst colours and make most of my paintings there. I started Kalpataru in 2006 with an intention to make the young generation understand the true meaning of colours.”
Like Chintamani, his wife Kalpashree Jagadev, is also a painter and the duo recently exhibited their paintings in an exhibition organised by the Lalit Kala Akademi.
The paintings to come
From a lower middle class family of the Panchutikri village, in Bhadrak, Chintamani has indeed come a long way in the field of art, where he has carved out a niche for himself. He is currently concentrating on his next series, “Love and Life”, based on the poems of the Oriya poet Mrityunjay Behera. The series will have 150 paintings.
