Artist Asit Kumar Patnaik talks to Team Viva about his series based on the dominant figure in our orthodox culture
Women have been an object of desire from time immemorial. Her ability to reproduce has been her biggest attribute in the society. She was defined by her flaws but in the modern era, she is rising to gain what is rightfully hers.
The emphasis of Radiant Relations by Asit Kumar Patnaik is on the modern age woman who is elegant and feminine yet bold and courageous. The confident strokes are subtle, quick and perceptive.
His prominent painting Joyful Congregation portrays a woman who is contemporary in her thoughts yet is adorned in traditional attire. She exudes an aura of sensuality. His subjects (man and woman) are not merely the proverbial yin and yang; they are also the memories and potentials, selves lost and reclaimed.
In one of his pieces, the woman can be seen confidently sitting on a chair flaunting her legs. He is trying to showcase women in all her glory, raw intensity and prowess. It is through subtle variations in their positions and gestures he communicates to the spectators his experiences and observations on various aspects of human relationships. Most of his paintings at the exhibition have the colour red in order to highlight key features of a woman. When asked about it, he replied “Every colour has some meaning in life, I adore red. This colour is a perfect blend of energy and attraction, representing both the characteristics of women and hence, I chose this hue to paint my women too. Apart from it, I used contrasts of gold.”
He has been working on this series for quite some time now. He often takes days, even months, to finalise the texture of a particular painting. All his paintings have an intriguing factor and the idea was to explore the individuality of a woman. The artist believes that women have the resilience to face any adversity, with their unique calibration of vulnerability and strength. Talking about his paintings, Asit Kumar Patnaik said, “The woman in this series depict traits like valour, fearlessness and forthright. Even though the society suppresses and critiques her every move, she rises above all with dignity. My paintings are an effort towards celebrating the rare gem that is woman.” The background has intentionally been kept quiet. He adapted total abstract in the background and laid stress on colors. “I tried to set a peaceful tone for the woman to stand as the pinnacle,” said Patnaik. The artist loves to work with colours and realistic figures. The appeal of Patnaik’s craft is embodied in his skills. The greys in the frame overlap the bold colours. The cohabitation of depth and colours appear to call forth a great deal of passion, intensity and vigour. Working with balance and metallic colours was challenging for him but it came out beautifully giving his paintings a soothing effect. One of the most enticing elements of the art works presented here is their association with nature. Talking about his intention of drawing thread of leaves and integrating nature in his paintings, he explained, “I love experimenting with my compositions. Texture is the strength of my paintings. I have drawn leaves on the clothes to relate nature with mankind.”
Originally from Orissa where Asit Kumar Patnaik received his BFA degree from Government College of Art and Crafts in Khalikote. He later moved to BHU for masters with a National Scholarship and topped his batch. With a unique mystic imagination, his paintings evoke a reaction that can only be defined as authentic.
The entire concept of the exhibition was thought-provoking. Talking about his future projects, he would be travelling to Dubai in April for his international solo show. His next exhibition will take place at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.