TALKING non/sense

Gallery ONKAF organised “Talking non/sense”, an artist talk and presentation by Sumantra Mukherjee and moderated by Dr. Ruchika Wason Singh.
Sumantra has been practicing art for over 15 years and has created a visual language, expanse of which has widened with each of his creation. His work is a unique amalgamation of material and technique exploration which derives its inspiration from his immediate mundane surroundings.

Sumantra identifies himself as a figurative practitioner of image making. The insight into his thoughts was as compelling, as his works are impressive. Ruchika’s inquisitive assistance helped the artist unfold most interesting details during the discussion focusing on how the outstanding loudness of his works draws inspiration from the his surroundings which are sometimes ordinary and mostly ignored and sometimes very exciting and noteworthy.

The evening was well-attended by art lovers and young artists, all of whom were stimulated by Sumantra’s compendious interpretations in conversation with Ruchika’s articulate inquiries. The talk concluded with an inspired audience interaction with the artist. The event unravelled strands of dialogues significant to distinctive visual art practices.

Artist Bio:
Sumantra Mukherjee. Born in 1981-West Bengal, India

Sumantra is a graduate from The Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata (2005) since then he has been practicing and participating in several  shows. His first solo presentation ‘Cloud 9’ was showcased in 2009 in Kolkata. The 2nd solo was titled as NORMAL, at Het Wilde Weten, Rotterdam, which was an outcome of a three months residency in fall 2015. Besides other exhibition, in September 2018 he had a solo presentation, ‘Chiriya Chug Gayi Cake’ which was in the Society of Contemporary Artist in Kolkata.

Sumantra is a figurative practitioner in terms of image making. He makes imagery reflecting his everyday surroundings, living in contemporary Indian society. Like his surroundings the works are loud, colourful, whimsical and chaotic. Subjects are chosen through emphatic involvement and understanding of local difficulties and changes. This allows local public, not necessarily interested in artistic practice, to be involved and addressed by his images. Although he is aware this might cause the work to be less accessible to those who are not familiar with daily situations faced here, he hopes the visualization of the particular, might lead to a broader understanding of the universal. Trained as a draughtsman he feels most comfortable when approaching his work as a drawing, even though his physical practice extends to (wall- and street-) painting, sculpture and design.

He survives as a freelance artist, doing illustrations and graphic novels for children books, commissioned murals and sculptural projects in and around India.

He lives and work in Kolkata, India.