Romanian strokes

RANA SIDDIQUI

Artist Dipto Narayan Chatterjee recently represented India at Romania. He narrates his account of the country's art scene even as an exhibition of his works continues in New Delhi.

HIS HAND A painting from Dipto Narayan's `Hand' series.

Dipto Narayan Chatterjee, the painter who made a name with his `Vintage Car' and `Hand' as also his golden hued `Sonar Qila' inspired by Satyajit Ray's film of the same name, on his canvases recently represented India at Romania. The painter was chosen among many by Kamal Meattle, an avid art lover and the owner of Paharpur Business Centre. Meattle, who also has an art gallery at PBC, has put an exhibition of Dipto's works on view till this coming Sunday. This exhibition sings the glory of Rajasthan forts and mystery of its folklores, human forms and a series on Indian gods and goddesses.

PBC Art Gallery with the help of the Romanian Embassy sponsored his trip to Romania for a solo show recently to "build a cultural bridge" as Meattle puts it. Dipto displayed his works at the National Theatre Complex, Union Artist Gallery, Romania. NTC is a cultural hub of Bucharest. He also donated a few paintings to the gallery. Not only that Dipto becomes, arguably, world's only painter one of whose works from the `Hand' series was recently auctioned at a Romanian website for 5000 Euros.

Romania's art

Dipto narrates his experience of the country's art horizon, "During my stay at Bucharest the Romanian artist fraternity took me to all the prominent museums, art galleries, studios, colleges and other art institutions. Fortunately an old masters' exhibition from France had started at the National Museum. It was a great opportunity to watch the original works of great masters, pre-impressionists, impressionists and post-impressionists like Rembrant, Braqusi, Renoar, Van Gogi, Pol Goga, Matiz , Pablo Picasso. Unfortunately, we hardly have any such exhibitions that enrich the young artists."

"A visit to Romanian Artists Museum where I came to know the history of Romania through plenty of original icons, tapestry, sculptures, paintings, crosses simultaneously is worth recalling. I was amazed to see the other European collections. Romanian Present Museum is a window to their culture and tradition. It has inspired me to do series on Romania. A Village Museum where Romanian architectural replicas are kept surprised me. They have a meticulous approach to art, something that we still need to learn."

Here at PBC, Dipto's 50 works are displayed. PBC being an eco-friendly organisation is giving its share of proceeds from Dipto's paintings to support environmental initiatives undertaken by it, "especially for furthering Principle 8 of UN Global Compact," as Meattle informs.

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