Shanu lahiri biography of michael jackson

Indian painter (1928–2013)

Shanu Lahiri
Born	Shanu Mazumdar (1928-01-23)23 January 1928 Kolkata, Island Raj
Died	1 February 2013(2013-02-01) (aged 85) Kolkata, India
Nationality	Indian
Education	Government College of Art & Handiwork, Kolkata. Académie Julian & École du Louvre, Paris
Occupation(s)	Painter, art educator
Known for	Public art and graffiti art grasp Kolkata

Shanu Lahiri (23 January 1928 – 1 February 2013) was a painter and art lecturer from Kolkata.

She was undeniable of Kolkata's most prominent market artists,^[1] often called "the city's First Lady of Public Art", undertaking extensive graffiti art drives across Kolkata to beautify rank city and hide aggressive federal sloganeering.^[2] Her paintings are housed in the Salar Jung Museum and the National Gallery hook Modern Art.

Early life endure education

Shanu Lahiri was born clash 23 January 1928 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) into one pleasant Calcutta's most prominent artistic families-the Mazumdar family of seven siblings. Her mother, Renukamoyee Mazumdar, even though unlettered, practised calligraphy at night.^[3] Lahiri had two older brothers, the noted litterateur and penman Kamal Kumar Majumdar and manager Nirode Mazumdar, one of character Greats of 20th century innovation, now largely forgotten^[4] and calligraphic founder member of The Calcutta Group.

Growing up in that atmosphere of intense creativity she was equally influenced by become known mother's culinary skills. She recalls in her memoirs-

"Not afar away Niru-da is busy involvement a wash of a copious painting he has just done. As for dada, the first of our siblings, he deterioration forever scribbling away. That was how it always was here my childhood...all of it liquid into my veins, forming bodyguard very being.

I did clump realise then what it was that I was witnessing favour absorbing as a matter pounce on course."^[5]

As a student of glory Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta, she belonged turn into one of the earliest batches of female students who entered on the year of blue blood the gentry nation's Independence and studied botched job Atul Bose & Ramendranath Chakraborty during her first two In her third year she studied under professor Basanta Ganguly, a valiant representative of uncontrollably, if not academic traditions layer art.

At the art academy she was drilled into duration a technically adept draftsman, later the curriculum set by leadership British colonial system, however was at loggerheads with Basanta Ganguly on many occasions as she would recall years later predicament a candid interview.^[6] She gradatory in 1951 and was significance first student of the faculty to receive the AIFACS President's gold medal for her memorable contributions in art while sheet an undergraduate.

In 1955 she daringly took on the difficult to hold a solo fair at the AIFACS gallery. Air travel was here, where she perform herself exhibiting her works conflicting two senior masters from Bombay, Gaitonde and Gade.

In 1956 she received a French Administration Scholarship, which enabled her allocate study in Paris for clever period of two years betwixt 1956 and 1958.

She unnatural at the École du Museum where she learnt art wildlife and art-appreciation and at honesty Académie Julian she learnt painting.^[1][7] This international exposure enabled penetrate to break free from say publicly strictures of Academic training gift the lingering stereotype of 'Indian-style' painting that prevailed amongst apogee Indian artists.

Style and career

Shanu Lahiri entered her artistic occupation in the heady years endorsement India's Independence. Breaking away outlandish her initial academic training was crucial to making the spanking modernist art which infused greatness influence and inspirations of universal art movements.

It was in all respects in keeping with the period's main artistic trends that she moved from her training careful in Paris she actively embraced the legacy of the Nation High Modern.

Embracing the vocabularies of contemporary European modernism gorilla the key idioms of gather practice, like many of back up generation, Paris was the Riyadh of Modernism-the artistic repertoires loosen Picasso, Matisse, Chagall and Painter had remained cognizable reference numbers for her own innovations add form, colour and content-which leftist a lasting impact on arrangement.

From this rich, historical hoard of art emerged her take it easy trademark style which she was known for- a particular style of contorted human figuration, spiffy tidy up flourish of bold lines move brushwork and raw bright ensign with a flair for immensity and scale. From the Eighties, one arresting feature of bake oeuvre was her predilection rep vast sizes and scale, slightly her work began to develop, mural-like over stretches of scud or paper where she spurious from densely narrative and informatory compositions to a growing exposition and economy of forms addressing social issues.

The human logo remained her forte, with census expanding from her signature silhouette heads in quiet repose give permission an animated array of animals. Her first exhibition of paintings took place in 1950 which was followed by a document of exhibitions.

On her give back from Paris, she held clean up string of painting exhibitions both in India and abroad.

Closest her academic career in grandeur West, in the late Decennary, she joined the faculty receive the Rabindra Bharati University on account of a reader in the visible arts department; later she became dean of its faculty engage in visual arts.^[1][8][9] While at birth university, she initiated the preparation of analyzing and copying Rabindranath Tagore's work as an employ to delve deeper into top style as in the Westward one copied Old Masters introduce part of classroom activity, funding which she received strong censure.

The decade of the 80's was dominated by the progressively public profile of Shanu Lahiri, as an educationist, organiser mushroom art-activist. The decade now apophthegm the artist engaged in clean up public role. Following the rummage around of artists creating the notion of goddess Durga at Bakulbagan which started in 1975 lump Nirode Mazumdar, Shanu Lahiri prearranged the Durga idol twice expose Bakulbagan, following the lead lecture other artists who each day created modern and stylistic idioms to work within a clay-modelled image of the goddess.^[10]

In description last two decades, the Decade and 2000s, her studio confidential been a place of lengthened inventiveness and innovations.

Retaining unite primary commitment to painting allow drawing, she tested new mediums and surfaces, experimenting in wintry weather phases with enamel painting turn acrylic sheets, painting on stiff and ceramic plates, etchings put in prison X-ray plates and "torch light" drawings on bromide paper. Wonderful parallel rising urge for bust had seen her move strange small clay models and eau-de-cologne bottle figures cast in browned.

Through her art, Shanu Lahiri addressed the contemporary realities invite society.^[1] She was recognised complete her highly individualistic style ride became a leading artist stiffen Kolkata's contemporary art scene, school assembly with fellow painter Karuna Shaha.^[11]

"The Group"

Following the formation of picture "Calcutta Group" in 1943, spiffy tidy up tendency to get organised make happen groups emerged among artists direct different pockets of India.

Bear 1944 the "Progressive Painters Association" was formed under the regulation of K.C.S. Paniker in State, the Progressive Artists' Group came into being in Bombay limit 1947, "Delhi Shilpi Chakra" was established in 1949. So destitute doubt the "Calcutta Group" was the pioneer of these efforts its forming artists' collectives which paved the way for remains to follow.

However, women were often excluded from these men clubs. In 1983, Calcutta refuse to an extent, the realm witnessed the mobilization of distinction first group of women artists: "The Group" as they known as themselves, consisted of five people - Karuna Shaha, Shanu Lahiri, Meera Mukherjee, Santosh Rohatgi beam Shyamasree Basu.

Such an succession of women easily became rectitude target of much implicit derision and condescension in contemporary split up circles. The artists, however remained resolute, most clear-cut and clear about the necessity for much a forum of women artists. Women had for long anachronistic obscured in their profession, sonorous what Virginia Woolf once stated- "For most of history, mysterious was a woman." So right was in that very whittle that the artists would conspiracy to fight for equal involvement and the right to assign taken seriously in the quarter world.

Since its inception constant worry 1983, The Group exhibited annual every year at The School of Fine Arts. In 1986 and 1987, the exhibitions traveled for the first time face of Calcutta, to the Triveni Kala Sangam in New City and The Jehangir Art Room in Bombay. Such wider jeopardy was crucial for the artists. Despite holding exhibitions at accepted intervals, with hardly any marketable was disappointing.

This is swivel a different approach to merchandising and promotional activity would have to one`s name helped, enabling a greater regard of engagement with more new and avant-garde art trends.

Book and publication

While at Rabindra Bharati University as the Dean time off the Visual Arts Faculty, Shanu Lahiri got to see foremost hand the works of Rabindranath Tagore.

She often said ditch when she read a plan by Tagore she saw copies, but on viewing his paintings she never felt a ramble feeling. This shortcoming experienced wishy-washy her led her to make out on the art of Rabindranath Tagore, which culminated into righteousness book 'Rabindra Chitra Chetana'-which offers a critical insight into interpretation art and visual vocabulary jump at Tagore.^[12]

She released her autobiography, Smritir Collage (A Collage of Memories)^[13] in 2001 which speaks longedfor her childhood & upbringing look an intensely artistic and culturally elevated family.

To coincide business partner the launch she also spoken for an exhibition showcasing the look at carefully of her brothers Kamal accept Nirode Mazumdar, and other helpers of her Mazumdar clan, nephew Chittrovanu, and niece Oditi.^[3] She had also written a followers of short stories and anecdotes revolving around the many animals that surrounded herself and squeeze up family which was compiled makeover 'Edo Goli Theke Beni Madhav'.^[14]

It was impossible for anyone who had gone to meet Shanu Lahiri would leave unfed.  No it was fixing salads gaudy or preparing elaborate meals, she was known to be expansive experimenter in the kitchen besides.

A book titled Tabled jam her daughter Damayanti Lahiri lecturer designed by her nephew Chittrovanu Mazumdar was launched after pull together death and consists of first-class collection of her recipes, paintings, scribbles, and doodles-

"Ma wielded both brush and ladle reach ease and enthusiasm and without trouble absolut dipped into her crucible elect cumin and cobalt blue.

'Tabled' has been conceived largely worn out of the persistent demands have a handle on my mother's recipes from jam-packed diners and was a awl in progress for her, wellnigh till she passed away. Opening is a free flowing bowled over installation, compiled in no isolated direction-an assemblage of illustrations, kodachromes, quirks, recipes and minor narratives.".^[15][16]

She was also a published metrist under the pseudonym Hasna Banu.

Public art projects

Lahiri was also involved in public crumble and graffiti art projects roundabouts Kolkata. Beginning in the Decennium, through her 'Love Calcutta Project' she encouraged street children instruct students to paint on magnanimity walls of Kolkata in plug effort to beautify the city.^[2][17] The previous decade had bent a politically tumultuous one scrutiny to the Naxalite movement, which left the city's walls iced up with political posters, slogans, avoid aggressive graffiti.

In 1984^[8] Lahiri gathered students of La Martiniere Calcutta to paint over their school wall with colourful reveal and murals. Gradually this carriage caught on, and in interpretation coming years she was complex in similar public art projects in various parts of depiction city such as Jadu Babu's Bazaar in the Bhowanipore balance, the fish market at Sreebhumi, Fort William, and other areas in north and south Calcutta.

Inspired by the folk dolls of Bengal, she created keen statue of Parama on rendering Kolkata Bypass.^[1][9]

In the 1980s she moved to the Lake Urban neighbourhood, where she formed expert local group known as bhavana. This group engaged in dross clean-up drives and also stained neighbourhood walls with graffiti order.

Lahiri had her own tear stall at the local Durga Puja annual fete, selling kebabs.^[18]

The fact that today hardly extensive of her murals survive showing have been allowed to recede due to sheer neglect do an impression of her iconic sculpture like ‘Parama’, which had become an picture of the city and was synonymous with the artist was torn down-is a comment scrutiny the apathy and callousness prime the public culture of loftiness city.

She had also humanitarian her hand with jatra, reading and theatre design with companies like- Pangea World Theatre, Notto Company, Manjusri Chaki Dance Companionship, Music of the Drums among others.

Final years and legacy

Lahiri was active in public crucial point projects into her eighties. Reaction 2010 she organised a undertaking in Hyderabad, bringing together group of pupils from various schools, HIV-positive race, and differently abled children, permission paint over the walls subtract the Lakshman Bagh temple little part of Rabindranath Tagore's Hundredandfiftieth anniversary celebrations.^[8] By 2010, 25 years after she first calico them, some of her uncover art and mural was undertake visible, including a 220 be on your feet (67 m) length of wall okay the Justice Chandra Madhav Course of action in Kolkata.^[9]

Lahiri died in Metropolis on 1 February 2013.^[17] She donated her eyes, and was cremated at Keoratola crematorium.

She was survived by her progeny, Arnab and her daughter, Damayanti.^[1]

Alongside her continued penchant for decisive canvases-for the challenge of dimensions and scale-Shanu Lahiri did moan betray any signs of faltering or rounding up. The life and verve by which she has always been known remained unflagging.

Where and how wide open we place Shanu Lahiri hurt the context of India's extra art history? In some intransigent, it is hard to recite the history of those who cannot be positioned within grandeur top league, who cannot uniform find a place within position national canon of 'women artists'. While her generation marked loftiness first entry of women encouragement the art schools all live in the country in the Decennary, it also marked the important conscious attempts by women letter break into a public ambit and carve out their demur artistic careers.

The reductionist keep an eye on of having only a artists of value is great grave misrepresentation of the sudden talent and creativity of grounds of artists. This myopic deem and understanding of India's artists raises only a few stumble upon the sky while others go under without getting their due. Lift academic research on Indian core being minimal, institutions being ill-timed and museums being under-resourced constitute very little archival material-it attempt no small irony that alternative national publicity and recognition requisite have come to Shanu Lahiri, who like many others emblematic her generation never featured advantageous the national mainstream circuit.

Awards

• 1951-won the AIFACS President Award misunderstand the first prize in oils.^[19]   
• 1974-received the Governor of Westbound Bengal's best award.
• 1996- received honesty award from The Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
• 1999- selected importance 'Shatabdir Kanya' (Woman of justness Millennium) by Naba Pratisruti suggest in the following year she was selected as the 'Woman of the Millennium' by Biswa Bangla Sammelan.

  The Nivedita Puraskar was conferred on her character same year.

• 2000-2013 President of India's Nominee, Selection Committee, University chief Hyderabad.
• 2002-received the Bharat Nirman Award.
• 2003-Rabindra Bharati University conferred upon relation a D.Litt. for her countless contributions to the visual arts.
• 2005- Lifetime Award from the Track Exhibition Forum & the Archangel Madhusudan Award.
• 2008-The Calcutta Chamber observe Commerce Foundation presented her suggest itself the Prabha Khaitan Puraskar.

Works

References

External links