Anukul merges empathy, nostalgia and mayhem

Anukul Chandra Mojumder is recognised for portraying inner conflict through his remarkable paintings. The central theme of his work often focuses on facial expressions and the human body. His latest paintings depict motherhood, the six seasons and their impact on nature, childhood and rustic ambiance. The USP of Anukul's paintings is an in-depth observation of rural Bengal- simple harmonic patterns, pastoral motifs, a tranquil atmosphere and childhood nostalgia.
The artist traces his roots back to a very remote area of Bagherhat. Swimming, fishing or roaming around the village were regular activities that occupied his childhood days. He reminisces his childhood with the paint brush on canvas. Compared to the village, the city seemed dull and inanimate. So he created a language for his paintings, where he focused on struggles, pain and isolation. Anukul now lives in a small but artistically laid out house-atelier at Mohammadpur. He draws from his imagination rather than employing models. Figures in motion and incomplete human forms are noticeable elements in his works. His subjects have a semi-realistic and surrealistic quality about them. He also marks coarse lines with his fingers to add his sense of poetry to the paintings. The colours black, blue, yellow, vermilion and crimson dominate his work.
Anukul's paintings are accentuated with lots of curves and twisted lines, often featuring bold, brutal and horrifying imagery. He does not hesitate to draw what is conventionally considered 'ugly'. Unattractive appearance, obese figures, languid eyes and unshapely forms feature heavily in his paintings. People running towards an unknown destination, embracing figures, sleeping women, awe-inspiring forms, nature in an unadulterated state, broken rickshaw, and foliage in abandon are his recurring subjects. He roots for the life force and power in the abstract. His images are prominent, determined, and capture forceful motion -- almost in its rawness -- and at times are unmindful of directions. His desires, emotions, hopes and aspirations are strongly allied with the masses of our country. He wants to focus especially on masses' strengths, their love for the country.

Anukul perpetually focuses on the strength and power of the human being. His canvas is not quiet or tranquil, rather it appears very bold and projects an impudent look. His works depict contemporary life and times. His creations inspire us to love the motherland and pay homage to it. He tries to highlight the rural people and their genuine patriotism. He not only portrays their images, but also pours into them human feelings, emotions and inner expressions. His skilled hands can capture any kind of struggle, pain and passion. He paints twisted figures and their movements. His figures are very stimulating and at the same time thought provoking. He uses space to increasingly interact with figures. His space is very open and broad so that he can easily communicate between his themes and space. The effective and aesthetic use of space brings about a sense of serenity in his works.
A number of his paintings depict detailed visages of women. One such work also features smooth ground and carries varied tones on different parts of the canvas. The painter has taken considerable time to create the foundation of this piece. Again one of his pet paintings reveals twisted figures in black. One part of the painting is elaborate with numerous curves and blurred shapes. Appearing in motion, his subjects have a realistic attachment with lines -- articulating sorrow and profound romanticism.
Anukul's solo exhibition, 'Dawn of Black' opened at Edge Gallery, Gulshan 2 on April 27. The exhibition will continue till May 18.