Dominated by symbols

DURING HER visits abroad, Eleena Banik, a young artist from Calcutta, learnt that oppression of women was not exclusive to India. It was prevalent the world over, though in different forms. Her views on several issues are strongly expressed in her recent paintings. She attempts to explore the philosophy of life through the cardboard boxes, which are symbolic of her life as a traveller.

When Eleena was a student at Santiniketan, she was able to understand several aspects of Nature but when she moved back to Calcutta, the industrialised city presented a strong contrast. Thus, instead of her usual landscapes, she began painting objects used in daily life like a telephone receiver that symbolises many things for her. Pots and pans are identified with women; a knife would mean aggression. A road roller in one of her works, could mean male domination in society. Objects in red often mean blood which finds frequent expression in her works. This idea is also reflected in the mixed media works where she uses different materials and threads on which colour is applied.

The human eye is a frequent symbol in her works and it sometimes replaces the head of a female figure. It even forms part of a butterfly. Eleena uses it as a sensuous element, something which is beautiful but which constantly moves and also gets easily irritated and sheds tears.

When she was at the Glasgow School of Art, the view outside the studio was rather bleak. This led her to use bright and often contrasting colours, be it in expressions using objects or landscapes, seen in works such as `From the aircraft' and `Reflection of Santiniketan'. The sunflower, that symbolises sunlight, the elephant and the butterfly are also frequently used in her works. Often the pigment is applied in thick rough strokes. Some are in oil on canvas and paper while some are in acrylic on PVC sheet.

Her recent works will be shown at the Apparao Galleries from November 1 to 12.

LAKSHMI VENKATRAMAN

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