A Journey of Art and Passion

Amit Nandi, Photo: Prabir Das

"Every incident that we come across everyday that can be a scene of beauty and peace or a bleak image of injustice or pollution creates a deep impression in my mind. When I touch my pencils and colours I cannot resist myself from depicting my thoughts about these experiences," says Amit Nandi, a promising and passionate young artist who has proved himself as one of the most talented artists in the oriental art scene in Bangladesh.  

He is one of the few contemporary artists in the country who have been working with the complex wash technique of oriental art form. A devoted enthusiast of this technique Amit says, "If any person knows the process of creation through wash technique, he will fell in love with it."

"After drawing the total picture, I have to wash it with water and repaint it more than 7 to 8 times. And finally when I get a perfect work after giving proper light and shade, the joy of creation is simply indescribable in words, adds Amit.

A graduate of Dhaka University's Faculty of Fine Art, Amit has secured the first position in the department of oriental art both in his honours and masters studies. He also got a lucrative ICCR scholarship for studying drawing and painting in Banaras, India but he refused the offer for his passion to study the oriental art. This brilliant artist achieved the first recognition of his talent in 2011 when he was awarded with the Artist Shafiqul Islam Smrity Puroshkar (Award) from his department for his painting using the wash technique. At that time, he was a student of third year of the bachelor course.

Universal Pain and Its Ramification 1, water colour on paper, 76x56cm, 2015.

Afterwards, his paintings have been exhibited in numerous national and international exhibitions. His first solo exhibition of the oriental paintings titled "In the midst of Eternal Beauty" has recently been held in Zainul Gallery of the Faculty of Fine Art, University of Dhaka from 10 to 15th November, 2015. His paintings have recently been exhibited in two other exhibitions simultaneously titled 5th Tone International Miniature Art Biennale, Bangladesh and Bangladesher Prachho Shilper Bistar (Expansion of Oriental Art in Bangladesh) by Bangladesh Society of Oriental Art at Dhaka National Museum. He won the Media Best Award in Oriental Art at the 5th Tone International Miniature Art Biennale 2015 for his artwork titled "Old Tradition and Present Position-1."       

Amit has always been vocal against injustice and exploitation. He speaks for the poor and exploited through his artworks. One of his notable paintings titled "Mourning for the Deceased" shows several burnt and rusticated sewing machines on a yellowish green plain while slums of the garment workers can be seen in the horizon. The dark blue lower part of the painting portrays the agony of the oppressed garment workers of Bangladesh. He also teaches at Kiron Kala Bhaban which is a free cultural school that teaches different forms of fine and performance art to underprivileged children.

This promising artist dreams of a free, prosperous Bangladesh where art can flourish without any trepidation and restriction.