"Script N-1" Painting

Born in Calcutta, 1941. Graduated from Govt. College of Arts & Crafts, Calcutta in 1963. Between 1966 and 1969 received French Govt. Scholarship to study painting/printmaking at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. Two of the highlights of this period were viewing the cine-collections in Cinematheque and witnessing the student revolt of 1968. Also traveled extensively in Europe and partly in Middle East. On return, lived in Chennai and Delhi through 1969-1976, and then left for Europe. Later joined University in Nigeria in 1977, completed Ed.M at SUNY-B, USA, in 1981. Subsequently became Head of Creative Arts at University of Port Harcourt, till 1988. During this period of 11 years, studied African arts and traveled in Africa. Exhibited in Nigeria, Europe and USA. Presently works and lives in Calcutta since 1989.

On Inscription Series

The sound in nature attracted mans inquisitiveness and the survival quest. Man mimicked sound to understand nature and communicate. It gave speech and words; and meanings to words. Sound to speech, and words; objects to pictograms and to alphabets. Journey is on.

The very process of written words is like completing a painting, only through the ages and many minds. A script is symbolic pictogram of mans dialogue with nature; thus words and sentences are entering the silent zone of communication through time and space.

When line moves, it makes trees, hills and flowers; sun and moon; it moves to turn into human form, man and woman, birds and animals. Line in script is alive; it stands alone on a pedestal, like a sculpture. Like wind it moves, takes shape and script finds new meaning in a new land. Shape it as you want, put meaning; yet, script is nobodys. Hold it on a canvas, bind with colours it stops awhile to be painting.

The journey of script is mans story.
Inscribed surface is all about that.