ANJAN PATRA
Born in 1973 in Kolkata, he graduated from the Government College of Arts &
Crafts, Kolkata. Anjan has participated in many exhibitions and shows in India.
Although figurative in style, Anjan has chosen a less popular, tougher medium
of Tempera, on canvas or board, in which he uses naturally ground vegetable
pigments & combines them with a paste from the babool tree to use as a binder.
This technique results in a superb finish, which is matt & refined, & the
longevity even in humid conditions, phenomenal. Anjan has been trained in the
school of Indian Painting ,& inspired by Indian miniature paintings, which is
reflected in his use of flat colours & clever use of negative & positive space,
vis a vis the Western school of painting, which relies more on bringing its
subjects to life thorough light, shade & perspective.There is a tendency to
give a rich network of intricate patterns symbolizing the labyrinth of the
character's thought process & inner beauty or turmoil, as the case may be.
Anjan's subjects are a statement on society, reflected through facial
expressions & body language of his characters.Sometimes, it is a comment on
poverty, other times it's old age & at others,a satire on the wealthy. It is
that particular moment which counts, in a language all his own.
