CIMA Gallery’s annual art fair, the Art Mela, left first-timers Bickram Ghosh and his wife Jaya impressed with the variety, affordability and accessibility of artworks, not just of the established senior artists but also young and upcoming artists.
“CIMA is to be congratulated for having conceptualised this wonderful platform that allows the work of rising stars to rub shoulders with that of established greats and for making both accessible to the general public,” said percussionist and music director Bickram.
Artwork by Uday Goswami
Owners of a new home, the Ghoshes took the opportunity to choose artworks to put up on their new walls. One of the first paintings that caught Bickram’s eye was an Uday Goswami piece. “This particular piece appealed to us with its bold, dramatic use of colour and texture. This is as much a piece that invites reflection as it is a conversation piece. I think that this would work perfectly for the hall in our new home. And Jaya agrees,” said Bickram.
Subrato Gangopadhyay’s depiction of a mother and child was one of Jaya’s favourites
For Jaya, it was Subrato Gangopadhyay’s depiction of a mother and child that really appealed. “This painting called out to me for obvious reasons — the depiction of a mother and child. It has been quite a while since I could carry my sons like this. This painting would be wonderful for our family room,” said Jaya.
Subir Dey’s painting intrigued Bickram
The second painting that Bickram chose was one by Subir Dey, which he felt would be perfect for any space in their home. “The juxtaposition of the man and the woman, the moon and the flowers, the bird and the third character are all intriguing, apart from being visually interesting,” said Bickram.
A Saraswati sculpture by Bimal Kundu
A Saraswati sculpture by Bimal Kundu was a point of contention between the two. While Bickram felt it would be perfect for his newly done up studio, Jaya felt with two artists at home it could grace any room in their new home. “This Saraswati sculpture is all things beautiful... minimal, yet so moving in her clean lines,” said Bickram.
Sanjay Banerjee’s stunning watercolour caught Jaya’s eye
Their two final pieces were a vibrant piece by Sanjay Banerjee and a patachitra by Swarna Chitrakar. “The colour play in this piece is just stunning. It is as if the artist has created his own world and is inviting us to see it through his eyes. This would be a rather nice addition to our drawing room,” said Jaya about the artwork by Banerjee.
A ‘patachitra’ by Swarna Chitrakar
“What does one say about this beauty? Our folk art effortlessly pull one in. I think these are all a part of our collective psyche, whether we know it or not. This again would fit in anywhere — such is the beauty of our folk art traditions,” said Bickram about Swarna Chitrakar’s work.
For both Bickram and Jaya, CIMA Art Mela is a treasure trove for art lovers and those new to art. “It is a great way to promote engagement with art, which can often unfairly be labelled intimidating,” said Bickram. “The sheer range of pieces that called out to us represents the multiplicity of meanings and possibilities that art can hold. This is a wonderful initiative,” added Jaya.
Art Mela 2024 is on till November 24, 11am to 8pm, at CIMA Gallery (43, Ashutosh Chowdhury Avenue, Sunny Towers, 2nd Floor, Kolkata - 700019)
