The Tale of a Woman’s Agony: The Art of Asit GharaBy Rajya VardhanOriginally published in Jansatta, Kolkata "Women have been deprived of their rights for centuries. Consequently, they do not hold the place in society they tru…
The Tale of a Woman’s Agony: The Art of Asit Ghara
"Women have been deprived of their rights for centuries. Consequently, they do not hold the place in society they truly deserve. Whatever happens in society has a direct impact on women. Due to social deception, women remain downtrodden and oppressed even today. This reality deeply disturbs me, which is why female portraits dominate my work."
These are the words of Asit Ghara, a young painter born in Midnapore in 1960. His latest exhibition, featuring 45 recent paintings, was held at the Academy of Fine Arts (Central Gallery) in Kolkata from July 21 to July 27.
Themes of the Exhibition
Aside from a few landscapes, the vast majority of the paintings focused on women. Ghara captures the raw emotions of women who appear suppressed, crushed, and hesitant. His work portrays a spectrum of female experiences:
- Suffering and agony
- Fear and shyness
- Innocence and simplicity
Notably, these portraits represent women from the lower and middle classes. High-society figures are absent from his canvases, though some depictions of children are included.
Technique and Style
The article highlights Ghara's unique approach to his craft:
- Medium: His primary medium is oil.
- The Palette Knife: Rather than using traditional brushes to carve out facial features, he uses a palette knife to blend colors. This results in thick, bold contours that, despite their heavy lines, are incredibly capable of expressing the deep inner emotions of his subjects.
- Graphic Prints (Chapa): Some of his works utilize a printing technique where figures are painted on glass and then transferred to paper. For these, he uses acrylic and watercolors.
About the Artist
Asit Ghara holds a diploma in Fine Arts from the Government College of Art and Craft (Kolkata), where he currently serves as a teacher. This exhibition at the Academy of Fine Arts was his second solo show (his first being in 1996). Beyond his solo work, he has participated in several group exhibitions across Kolkata and other cities.
Summary: The exhibition serves as a visual protest against the historical and social marginalization of women, using bold, textured strokes to give a voice to the voiceless.
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