Rhapsody is a Greek word which means an effusively enthusiastic or ecstatic expression of feelings. Artist Asish Kumar Das is presenting his solo exhibition of 40 sculptures called ‘The Rhapsody’ – an exhibition of surreal sculptures using bronze, aluminium, patina. The exhibition is on view till 7th December at Visual Arts Gallery of India Habitat Centre.
Asish Kumar Das comes from the small town of Chinsurah in West Bengal. He lived very close to a colony of idol makers, who created with profound energy a majestic array of gods and goddesses for people to worship during Durga puja and various other pumas. A happy childhood in a joint family and the long hours spent in the home of the master craftsman, idol maker Nitai Pal filled his childhood days with magical wonder. He now believes that his love for figurative sculptures must have originated from this source.
In a candid conversation artist Asish Kumar Das says, “Having spent my childhood in a mofussil town, the inherent fervour particularly the culture, religion, language so interwoven with nature around has always touched my life. The natural environment stands out amongst all this and has carved a special niche in my life. The simple ordinary person in everyday grind of life interacts with the natural environ omnipresent in that area and gives rise to a totally new genre all together.”