Basuki Dasgupta

Shakti symbolism, rich traditions of Bengali tribal lore, and folk traditions define the work of Basuki Dasgupta. With his poignant and sensitive works, he invites us to dive deep into what connects us as human beings. He cajoles us to see that we are more similar than we realize whether it is with the person on the other end of the belief spectrum or the other end of the world. The women, in Basuki Dasgupta's paintings, are inspired by goddesses in his own life as they live with incredible poise and grace. The women take prominence in most of his works with eyes half-closed and their countenance very still. His work is a blend of figurative and abstract; with heavy texture and embossing, motifs from architecture, abstract shapes and forms, and mixed media. Texture is his first priority; a physical experience he holds dearly. He plays with paper pulp, hard boards, and thick acrylic paints to achieve the unique texture and patterns you see in his works. When he runs his fingers against his own paintings today, he is reminded of all those intimate memories of paintings and murals he experienced in the famed terracotta temples of Bishnupur, West Bengal. His creations are an attempt to explore the dichotomy between nature and mankind, rural and urban, or the human and divine. For, there is always a constant war of compassion and truth over greed and ego.