A golden tribute: French-Bengali artwork collaboration brings Kolkatas ghats to life at Durga Puja pandal

In a novel mix of artwork, tradition, and historical past, French artist Thomas Henriot has collaborated with Bengali artist Tapas Datta to create a 22ftx7ft paintings depicting the ghats of the Ganga river at Hatibagan Sarbojanin, some of the common Durga Puja pandals in north Kolkata.

The paintings, crafted utilizing golden threads, which took over two years of analysis and work to finish, options the Basu Bati Palace in Baghbazar, a historic web site for Durga idols, that are taken for immersion within the Ganga after the festivities are over. “It was some of the vital Durga pujas in Kolkata. It is a ravishing mixture of historical past, tradition, and structure. It is my tribute to Kolkata,” stated Mr. Henriot, who has been visiting the town for the previous 20 years.

The French artist stated using golden threads was a “acutely aware selection” to pay homage to the Silk Route that traversed the Indian subcontinent. This is the primary time such an paintings is being unveiled in Kolkata to the general public and it will likely be exhibited at venues throughout India and Europe. He initially created a portray of the Nineteenth-century palace, which was then translated right into a textile medium and replicated utilizing gold threads. He drew inspiration from the town’s wealthy historical past and structure to create the paintings.

Mr. Henriot – who studied artwork at Ecole des Beaux Arts de Besançon in France and lives and works in Rio de Janeiro, Havana, and Paris – collaborates with artists from the world over. He is thought for paintings utilizing ink on Japanese rice paper scrolls which might be 45 cm large and as much as 25 metres lengthy.

‘Display actual glory’

“People speak concerning the ghats of Benaras; they’re so common. But our ghats are equally lovely and historic. I would like individuals to see these ghats of their actual glory. My artwork this 12 months is an try to try this,” Mr. Datta stated whereas giving ending touches to the paintings hours earlier than the pandal opened to the general public.

Mr. Datta goals to place the highlight on the ghats of Kolkata by means of a collection of work, a mission that may characteristic collaborations with 4 artists from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal stated they selected this theme due to the locality’s proximity to a few of the oldest ghats of the Ganga. “Our heritage and historical past are intertwined with the historical past of the ghats,” stated one of many organisers.

This collaboration is just not the primary of its sort in Kolkata’s Durga Puja festivities. Last 12 months, Irish artists Lisa Sweeney and Richard Babington collaborated with Bengali artist Sanjib Saha to create a novel mix of goddess Durga and Irish goddess Danu on the Behala Nutan Dal Durga Puja pandal in south Kolkata. It was created to commemorate 75 years of India-Ireland diplomatic relations.