K a m a l M i t r a Oblique Memoir

(SANEPR.com) March 27, 2009 -- K a m a l M i t r a
“Oblique Memoir”
Exhibition runs through: March 19-April 30, 2009

It has been nearly a year and half since Tamarind Art has been able to showcase one of its most powerful and thought provoking artists, Kamal Mitra. Tamarind Art Council would like to welcome art connoisseurs back to the gallery with a second solo exhibition, “Oblique Memoir”, featuring oil,
acrylic and charcoal on canvas consistent with critically acclaimed exhibitions of the winter of 2006 and the fall of 2007.
This spring collection will continue an array of canvases elaborating the human body charged with introverted emotion, while forcefully reiterating personal myth using spatial excess to repeated images. Mitra’s art has been known to exude a sense of vulnerability, contemplation, and captivity, as envisaged in “Captive II” and “Scripted Wall”, where the protagonist gives its viewers a compelling image of silence and submission. The human figure or parts of the body such as the hands, the back, and the face, are used to portray the deep emotions that run through the canvases unveiling a narrative. The hypnotic gaze of the protagonist invokes the viewer to experience feelings, thoughts, and attitudes of the artist’s internal turmoil. The poignant discourses in Mitra’s paintings are depicted through constant grasping and clenching of hands, which portray a very delicate yet powerful imagery.
About the Artist:
Kamal Mitra was born in 1964 and graduated from Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan in 1993. He has participated in both group and solo shows, two of which have been exhibited at Tamarind Art Gallery. Mitra is a recipient of various prestigious awards, including the Junior Fellowship under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India 2000-2002; and the drawing award from the Government of West Bengal in 1996, among many others.
About Tamarind Art Council
Tamarind Art Council (TAC) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting contemporary art in North America. Our focus is to support all types of artistic expression, including performing and fine arts, by sponsoring art-related activities and cross-cultural events in order to expand the audience for art and culture.
Our mission: Tamarind Art Council exemplifies how life can revolve around the arts. Our mission is to inspire the work of contemporary artists and performers and to facilitate public appreciation for these unique cultural art forms. Some of our events include art exhibitions, performing arts, book launches, lectures and other cultural programs. As part of our on-going efforts, we support art museums, cultural communities and not-for-profit organizations around the globe. Tamarind Art has become a nexus for many art organizations and is a resource center for gaining an understanding of all forms of art, artists, and other areas of interest to individuals, businesses and art investors.
Tamarind Art Council is proud to announce our sponsorship of The Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) film screening “INDIA NOW,” a bi-annual program launched in 2007 that will be presented at the museum again in June 2009.
Other sponsorships have included Festival of India with WMI featuring Shivkumar Sharma and Zakir Husain, Masters of Indian Music – Rahul Sharma & Zakir Husain with WMI in November 2007, Prema Murthy’s Fuzzy Logic Exhibition at P.S. 1 MoMA from June – September 2007, and the Contemporary Photography and Video Art exhibition “India Public Places/Private Spaces” held at the Newark Museum of Art from September 2007 – January 2008.
Our most successful and well-received exhibition, entitled “Gandhi: The Legacy,” was held in 2008 in collaboration with Phillip Glass Opera and Satya Graha Forum. The photography exhibition captured a nostalgic view of Gandhi’s true legacy. It was displayed from April 10th – May 3rd.