The Confused Zebra Painting

Art has always been an important part of Durba’s life. It has helped in defining her expression, views, sensibilities and her experiences. Born and raised in India, Durba started off by taking classes in art and Indian classical dancing. She enjoyed both, but decided to take art with her when she traveled to the U.S. While growing up, she explored water colors, graphite, charcoal and oil pastels. The exploration of different media fascinated her and made her curious for more! She worked on landscapes, especially skies in their different moods, hues and colors. She also worked on portraits, exploring the light and shadow and the contours of the face. For a long time thereafter art took a backseat with career and raising a family in the U.S. Relocating back to India from the U.S for a few years sparked back her interest in art. The vibrant colors of India, the spontaneity of the people, the textures found in fabrics and spices, the diverse music, the architecture and the sense of vibrancy in every corner of the country –all stirred the artistic passion in Durba and helped create a dynamic vibrancy on the canvas! Bright vibrant colors and different textures are used to weave through her imagination and feelings to render beautiful landscapes, still life and vivid abstract art. Over time her art has gravitated towards an abstract rendition of life and nature. Her travels in India and around the world, the current social issues that are so plaguing this country and the world are some of the ideas that she draws inspiration from! There is always something hidden, waiting to be discovered in her paintings! Her paintings are mostly abstract in nature, touching genres like geometric abstractions, landscapes and seascapes, socio-political and cultural issues that matter to me and the world around me. The Earth and the world we live in and the one we pass on to the next generation are very important to her. The issues we face today with Climate Change and Global Warming will do unknown damage to the future generations, the centennial implication for the 19th Amendment and women’s rights, which we still have to fight for, the racial and gender issues plaguing the world, today – she deeply care about these causes and this finds representation in her work.