"My work is not descriptive in nature. It is basically gestural or may be it gives a kind of existential feeling. I should like to say that my figure does not behave like a figure, nor is it some kind of transformation. It is more like an assimilation with nature... I was quite moved by the existentialist philosophy of Sartre and Camus, which might have brought this twist in my work". ~ Amitava Das
Amitava Das was born in New Delhi, on the 27th of May, 1947. He studied in the city's College of Art from 1965 through 1972, after which he became a lecturer at the Art Institute, Jamia Millia Islamia of New Delhi, this stint lasted for one year, from 1974 to 1975. Though Das left the JMI institute he continued to be a visiting lecturer at the College of Art and Women's Polytechnic of New Delhi, he taught there from 1975 to 1977.
Das's works reject and defy categorization. A bit of a rebel, Das set out to 'delearn' all he had been taught at college right after his graduation, so as not to have an expected or predictable response towards his art. He is at ease experimenting with any and all media that comes his way, from soap wrappers to photographs, the artist plays and moulds the materials into his base, tarnishing it with stains from a coffee mug, tea bags or ink drops. He is incredibly spontaneous and works on pure instincts.
Das won the National Award in 1976, given to him by the Lalit Kala Akademi of New Delhi. In 1982, he took home the Sahitya Kala Parishad Award and in 1989, was bestowed with a fellowship by the Federal Republic of Germany.
The artist has exhibited extensively across India, as well as at many international venues such as Switzerland, Moscow and Sydney.
His works are part of major collections such as those of the Society of Contemporary Art, London; the Bharat Bhavan of Bhopal; and are in the collection of the central Lalit Kala Akademi.
The artist lives and works in New Delhi.
Prakriti Kashyap
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