Two Solo Projects - White Noise by Ushmita Sahu and Blueprint of a City by Prasanta Sahu at Kalakriti Art Gallery

Kalakriti art gallery is happy to present its latest venture - two solo projects by artists Prasanta Sahu & Ushmita Sahu. This artist couple has also been part of the recent Kalakriti Artists Residency programme in December* January 2015-16. An interesting aspect is the difference of visual language, medium, theme and approach to their work. If Prasanta’s oeuvre is rooted in the fabric of social issues then Ushmita derives her sources from more universal themes such as space and movement of time. This interplay in her work taken along with the geometric, linear treatment and use of open spaces creates an unknown dimension. Resultingly in Ushmita’s works the two dimensional surface is animated with vastness and movement giving an illusion of multi-dimensionality; an endless play of stasis and motion. Prasanta Sahu on the other hand studies the underbelly of the social structure, focusing on a macro/ micro view of the parts that make up a whole. In his meticulously crafted paintings and drawings Sahu analyses, recognises and represents the contributions of those unsung heroes who help create our society but always remain hidden behind the proscenium.

“BLUEPRINT OF A CITY” by PRASANTA SAHU
Detailed Concept Note:
Prasanta Sahu tries to execute things as they appear in reality, and gives them a different meaning altogether by juxtaposing images from dissimilar areas. His practice could be viewed as re-constructions and investigation of events. In his ongoing series Sahu examines the ‘unknown multitudes’ that serve the society in many different ways for the fulfilment of basic human needs and daily survival, but themselves are never recognised for their contribution. Sahu’s works intervene into these areas and expose situations and faces which are unrecognised and marginalised yet are important for the fabrication of contemporary society. Sahu’s process starts with photo documentation and interviews which later he reworks in his studio. The intention is not to repeat the reality rather to juxtapose these data in a contextual way; in his works, photographed and scanned images appear alongside re-created situations. Irrespective of the fact that Sahu works in several different medium, investigation into the human condition is the thread of commonality running through his metier.

“WHITE NOISE” by USHMITA SAHU

Detailed Concept Note:
Ushmita says her works are an introspective assimilation of the mechanics of her own mind. They are a continuing series of open ended dialogues with herself; an expressions of her search into the essence of who she is. She tries to give tangible form to an intimate, unknown space. Mapping is essentially a human endeavour to de-mystify; to break down the unknown into knowable units- she proposes her drawings are area maps of the infinite space that exists within her, and calls herself a metaphysical cartographer.

Her work may be called a “process oriented Abstraction” where images suggest geological phenomena, horizon lines, celestial events, and topographical formations and architectural forms. She is fascinated by theories of space and time continuum, black holes, singularity, event horizon and other scientific theorems. The almost architectural spatial division could be read as human interface and the more organic forms float and move within the more structured space around it, interacting with it sometimes trapped by it. She feels aurally her paintings are predominantly silent. For Ushmita colour is expressive and personal; the layered, acrylic surfaces consume themselves, overlapping and running into each other, and finally melting into an image which may be strangely evocative.

At any given time she deals with three kinds of space; the space on the paper, the space around her and the mental space within. For her each work is a whole of and a part of a larger dimension, where every section exists individually within its assigned space, and also extends infinitely on all sides. Repetitiveness is an element she employs deliberately. Each drawing is a record of transforming events, about pattern, structure and repetition. With each repetition every element is experienced differently. Every repetition initiates a transformation

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

PRASANTA SAHU
Born 1968, Orissa, after completing his Diploma in Electrical Engineering from Orissa, Prasanta Sahu completed his BFA (Painting) from Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan (1998) and his MFA (Painting) from MSU, Baroda (2000).Sahu has participated in numerous national fit International shows such as -India Fine Arts Exchange Exhibition, Daegu, South Korea-2015 / International art programme, Burapha University, Thailand 2014/ “India Today, Copenhagen Tomorrow”, sculpture show at Denmark Embassy, New Delhi, 2013/“Global Peace”-a group show of Thai-lndian at Art Gallery, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. 2009/ “The Promissory Maze”, Dubai, 1x1 art gallery 2008 / “Art for freedom” exhibition cum auction .London, organized by Tehelka art and Aicon gallery, London /-ltA MAZIN6” * Jehangir art gallery, Mumbai, organized by RPG Enterprises 2008/ - International Art Fair, Rome 2007 / “V / S (V) A" three person show at AICON art Gallery, New York, 2008.

USHMITA SAHU
Born 1973, Ushmita has done her B.F.A. in Painting from Delhi College of Art St M.F.A. in Painting from Kala-Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, India. Ushmita has won the Yuva Mahotsav award and is also a past recipient of the National Scholarship of the Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Govt, of India. She has recently had a solo show in Bangladesh titled “The Metaphysical Cartographer” at the Dhaka Arts Center 2014. In 2014 she was part of a 7 day workshop organized by The Dhaka University, where she presented a seminar entitled “The woman artists of Santiniketan; gender history 6t shifting paradigms” and a 20 day Artist Residency programme and International artists Show at Burapha Fine 6t applied Art University, Thailand. She has been a part of several group shows and camps including “Inaugural Show”, The Egg Art Studio, Delhi .“Members of SSVAD” at Emami Chisel Arts Kolkata “Remembering Lessing” at The Hub Baroda, “Existential Explorations” at Galleria M, Kolkata," Anuchitra" -Contemporary Miniatures, a group show at Ganges art gallery, Kolkata; Group Show at Emami Chisel, Kolkata; “Miniature Format Show” Gallery Sans Tache, Mumbai; Group Show and Auction, Kolkata International Foundation; “Modern to Contemporary”, Gallery Kolkata.

Ushmita regularly contributes articles to leading art magazine both National & International. She also curates shows. She is the writer of a monograph on artist and designer Riten Mazumdar commissioned by Bengal Charu Kala Parshad. Among the several shows she has curated the most recent is “Poetics of Plurality” at Gallery SITE art space, Vadodara 2016. She is also the coordinator of the arts project at SSVAD, Santiniketan.