Silence, please!

Veteran artist Samir Aich merges known forms with the unknown in his latest series of works

Veteran artist Samir Aich merges known forms with the unknown in his latest series of works

Is it an elephant? Or a rhino? Oh hold on, is it some other animal? And what's that? A human being right next to it? That is the confusion you might face when you take a look at veteran artist Samir Aich's recent exhibition Nerve Line of Being, that's on at a south Delhi gallery.

Untitled works by Samir Aich

And incredible though it may sound, Aich actually does this on purpose. He paints a known form, adds some brush strokes to give itu00a0 a slightly different look (read, things you can't really identify with anything at all you have seen) and voila! There emerges a completely new object.

Aich will have you believe that it is all deliberate. "I merge unknown forms with the known in order to mislead the viewer. And I do this on purpose so that no one can read into the paintings and create their own explanations," says the artist.

The real and the unreal
His artworks on display elucidate that. Take for instance one of his untitled artworks. There are several breast forms, but then he has added some other elements as well which lend the work an element of spirituality. "I merge the known and the unknown also to create an aura of mystery," adds Aich. "There is sensation and sensuation in this series," he adds.

There is yet another work showcasing a skeleton and leather. Here the artist has tried to paint Bengali novelist Saratchandra Chattopadhyay's famous character Mahesh. In the story with the same name, Mahesh, a cow dies of starvation and his skin is sold off. Some other works have been inspired by the recent political violences in West Bengal.

There is no particular theme in this recent series of works. "I work on silence and abstraction. There is sound in silence. Every canvas should tell its own story," says Aich.

The artist is showcasing 12 paintings and 14 paperworks here. Bright colours are conspicuous by their absence. He has worked using mixed medium like acrylic, paper and even masoor dal!

Blast from the past
Aich has been painting ever since he was a child. He passed out from the Government Art College in Calcutta in 1978. So how has his work changed over the years? "My works change with my feelings and philosophy," he says. Social and human problems also reflect in his works. His works are defined by a minimalist approach. Next up for the artist is a solo show in Dhaka next year.

At: Gallery Ensign, B-17, Geetanjali Enclave, Malviya Nagar
On till: October 30
Timings: 11 am to 7 pm
Ring: 64996900