Imagined on a cheerful colour palette, artist Prithviraj Choudhury is translating his artwork into fashion accessories based on the concept of wearable art, with his new venture Fashion Art by Prithviraj Kolkata. Known for his portrayal of mythology and folk narratives on canvas, the artist’s vibrant collection launching ahead of Holi is a limited edition. “I was in the US last year at Palo Alto, where I got to know about wearable art and came up with the concept. This particular trip transformed my mind. I brought it to Bangalore, Bombay and Calcutta. A limited-edition wearable art derived from an original painting, it is quite a fresh and new concept,” says Prithviraj.
Art has been a part of Choudhury’s life since he was a child and his art focuses on the portrayal of the figurative in their folk sensibility rather than the abstract. “From my childhood days only I have been into narratives and folk stories. My father (Late Pradip Choudhury) was a very well-known artist himself and for me, this is like taking the legacy forward. My art is based on themes taken from traditional tales invented to explain a particular belief, historical event, fact of nature or historical legends. My work does not preach a moral. They are spiritual impressions. I don’t want to brand them as only mythology, they talk about the origin of humans, supernatural beings, heroes, and the God-given powers,” he tells The Telegraph. His favourite subject is Radha Krishna. “I have portrayed it through various perspectives in my work. The infant, the young boy with Radha or the divine hero. Radha Krishna is absolutely timeless,” adds Prithviraj.
Subhamita Banerjee’s simple black outfit is enhanced with a splash of colours by styling two separate pieces of wearable art silk fabric pieces with a corset belt. A classy summer evening look, the red lips add a touch of subtle glam.
The artist works with acrylic on his canvas and his paintings feature a riot of hues. “My signature bold and sensational colours set my narrative into a pitch of intensity. I love to play with a riot of bold colours by the degree to which they reflect and dramatise the theme in tone and texture,” says Prithviraj. Elaborating on translating the original art on fabric, he says, “Once an original painting is done, we capture it digitally and print it on a 1mx1m silk because the colours are coming out well on silk. The accessories get a nice flow when one wears them. I am not disturbing the main composition of the painting. I am just printing it and processing it. I am committed to my art and I don’t go beyond that. Once this set is over I will move on to my next art. This won’t be repeated. I only work on my signature genre that is what I love.”
Prithviraj Choudhury
The fabrics can be styled eclectically into scarves, headbands, wrap-arounds, belts, tube tops, pocket squares or ties to give an edgy touch to any mundane look. “This particular wearable art is for everyone who is aware of fashion. We are calling it a fashion element that can accentuate the clothes. You can wear it with ethnic, traditional or western outfits. The colours in the subject are conversation starters and association with the art and culture makes the collection different,” says Choudhury.
Pictures courtesy: Prithviraj Choudhury
The collection can be purchased at the artist’s studio at South City Residency