‘If I did not explore art, my life would remain unfulfilled’: Lalu Prasad Shaw | Eye News,The Indian Express
Borrowing from Indian traditions and contemporary ethos, a recent Kolkata exhibition brought together over five decades of veteran artist Lalu Prasad Shaw’s works
The mediums I’ve used best fit my need for both expression and sustenance at the time. In art college (Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata), I switched from a course called commercial art to painting, where I gained skills across various mediums — experimentation was a natural part of the learning.
I ventured into printmaking after seeing a graphic arts show in the late ’60s, organised by Kekoo Gandhy of Chemould Gallery. I also loved the works of the abstractionist Sailen Mitra. However, graphics required costly material and didn’t really sell at the time. I didn’t have the means to continue printmaking after 1973. So, I shifted focus to tempera in the late ’90s.
The exhibition also includes your early fine-line drawings. Tell us about those.
Minute patterns and fine lines always fascinated me. I admired the works of Jamini Roy, particularly those that were inspired by Kalighat paintings. Even in my paintings, you will see heavy emphasis and distinct demarcation of lines.
Since the late ’90s, you have worked on the “Babu–Bibi” series — an idea that came from teaching at Santiniketan — on Bengali babus in dhotis, and the ladies decked up in saris.
Rating: 5