PURI: ERA AND AURA

BIKASH CHOUDHURY

Puri: Era and Aura got off to a colorful start inside the leafy Lalit Kala Akademi Regional Centre at Bhubaneswar. This was the solo maiden show of a very bold and accomplished artist Susmita Sahoo, who is an art teacher in Kendriya Vidyalya, Kharagpur after completing her Bachelor in Fine Arts from BK Art College, Bhubanewswar. Not only the title of the show was unconventional, and in a way unique to the artist inside; but, also her choice of the medium—water color to showcase the cultural legacy of the Puri township that revolves around Sri Mandir, Jagannath Sanskriti, tourists and pilgrims, who come calling from all over the world to inundate themselves with the blessings of Lord Jagannath. Susmita justifiably felt that the rich heritage of Puri is facing a threat from the very turbulent changing times that would take its toll on the rich tradition and culture manifested in its various festivals celebrated throughout the year. Keeping these thoughts at the back of her mind; she was inspired to capture some of the cultural places and activities related to Lord Jagannath in the spiritual township of Puri in her paintings with water color on paper. It would be an understatement if it’s said “Susmita has chosen her subjects carefully and impeccably that would remind any ordinary visitor of Jagannath Temple and instantly connect with him and her. One such painting was about “Dolamandapa Sahi after Dark” the narrow by lanes in front of Srimandira; that is lined with small shops and remain chokablock filled with pilgrims in the day and night. Susmita has captured the place at night with unparalleled brush strokes that illuminates the dusty bylanes in the hearts and minds of an art lover and devotee of Lord Jagannath. Susmita says “water color is a very vibrant medium which is direct and creates its effects at lightening speed, and they can’t be reversed or duplicated.” The artist has used most transparent shades and some cool techniques that orchestrate the luminosity of the medium with diverse textures that illuminates her paintings. In this series she has very deep, rich and larger than life water color paintings depicting ancient folklore with myriad of colors; but, judiciously balanced to give a scintillating view of the art work. The painting referred above is the “Naga Painting—14” x 11”. Nagas used to protect Puri from invaders; and, Naga Puja is one of the rare events practiced only at Puri during Durga Puja. There are some other prominent paintings like Raghunandan Library in Emar Mutt, Hypnotic Drummer, Bojhia bhai, Emar Mutt, Mahaprasad on trolley, Rosha Ghara and Conch seller. Susmita conceded that it will take many more years of efforts to fully cover the rich heritage and diversity of Puri, the cultural icon of Odisha; she has plans to have many exhibitions in the future. Apart from her skill on art; Susmita, would go down in the history as the first cultural chronicler of Jagannath Sanskriti and Puri in a very powerful visual medium. This initiative—Era & Aura shall inspire many younger generation of artist to showcase the precious and affluent cultural heritage of Odisha in the future.

(Authors Bio: Socio-Economic-Political Activist and Freelance Writer on Art & Culture. Contact: streben.market@gmail.com)