If you are a lover of old Calcutta, then Tejas Gallery is the place to check out watercolour paintings as part of the third chapter of the ‘Calcutta Nostalgia’ series by Avanish Trivedi.
The exhibition with My Kolkata as the digital media partner opened at Tejas Gallery, Circular Mansion, 222 AJC Bose Road (opposite La Martiniere for Girls back gate), and will run till August 31 (except Sundays) between 12 noon and 7pm.
Inauguration of the exhibition at Tejas Art Gallery on August 17
The paintings displayed at the gallery capture the essence of a bygone era in Kolkata, featuring iconic elements like hand-pulled rickshaws, old trams, yellow taxis and heritage buildings. Trivedi’s work resonates deeply with those who cherish the city’s past, transporting art lovers to a time when these were part of everyday life.
Avanish Trivedi, a self-taught artist who also works in the corporate sector, has earned the sobriquet of ‘Calcutta watercolour artist’. His paintings of Kolkata’s older quarters have found homes with collectors across 22 countries, appealing to a global audience that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. His works have been admired by notable personalities such as Ratan Tata, Leander Paes and Usha Uthup.
The self-taught artist, who also works in the corporate sector, has earned the sobriquet of ‘Calcutta watercolour artist’
Speaking to My Kolkata, Trivedi shared: “I am a Gujarati, born and raised in Calcutta, I used to live in central Calcutta and my mamabari (maternal uncle’s house) was in Chitpore (northwest Calcutta), which was full of artisans whom I saw painting. Later, I moved with my family to south Calcutta. When I took up art, my background was nowhere close to art.”
Tejas Gallery, showcasing fresh and meaningful art, provides the perfect backdrop for this nostalgic journey. The gallery has a reputation for showcasing diverse art forms and giving young talents a platform to express themselves. Since its inception in 2007, Tejas has become a popular space for both established and emerging artists.
“I started working with Tata Consultancy Services back in the year 2007 and ever since I joined the corporate world, I wanted to have a side hustle behind the monotonous 9-to-5 job. Since I had that creative instinct within me, which was waiting to come out, I thought why not give it a shot. Hence, I joined the Birla Academy the same year and enrolled for a one-year course but with my deep interest in art I continued that for 15 years,” Trivedi told My Kolkata.
Art lovers admire Avanish Trivedi’s work at Tejas Art Gallery
“I pursued water colour extensively, as it was a challenging medium and I loved it. My skills improved. I did my first solo show with the theme of Banaras, which was more or less good. But later, I realised I was not getting that satisfaction painting Banaras. When Taj Bengal offered me a solo show in 2018, it proved to be a game-changer for me. The trams and rickshaws that I always missed found their way to my canvas. And by God’s grace, I have never looked back ever since,” concluded Trivedi.
