#InConversation with Avijit Dutta

Avijit- I mainly live in the Cotton Mill and Rail industrial area of Howrah. Being adjacent to the railway gate and railway station, I was particularly influenced by the lifestyle of the common people. So, my works mainly refer to the daily life of common people in my surroundings.

I like to work with common objects, carry bag is one such object which I use in most of my artworks. It is an integral part of the daily life of common people, which is always connected with their life. They use their carry bags every day from waking up in the morning till going to bed at night. So I cover their faces with carry bags, which refers to their apathetic reaction to other issues in the society. I feel like they are stuck in a daily life cycle, every day from the beginning of work in the morning to the end of work at night, their daily life is passing in this way. No external social or political events affect their soul and daily life. Those events are insignificant compared to the daily struggles. All their joys, enthusiasms, fatigues, leisures are constantly revolving in their life cycles. Which became the main concept of my work.

Avijit - I think the objects I use are not only metaphors for my surroundings, but also metaphors for each of our daily lives. These common objects are objects of daily use by each of us. We are emotionally attached to these simple things.

Avijit - I mainly use soil to represent my work space, my present surroundings, the area the work dominates and the significance of the nature of that area. So it's not to do with just Howrah, if I go to work somewhere else later, maybe I will collect soil from there and use it for my own work. In that case, I may use not only the soil but maybe some other material in my work. The life journey of common people here is not very simple. People work here every day. Yet their lives stop at one place, no improvement. But there is joy in that too. Which I try to highlight in my artwork through scratching technique.

Avijit - The colours of rust and earth tones that come into my art work are reflected in the changes in my art practice. Surrounding roads, railway lines, dusty, rough environment, pollution coating on trees, dull mental state of common people come out through the colours of my artwork.

Avijit - In my area, which is mainly an iron and steel town, but in the past there were ponds, lots of trees. But currently many trees are being cut down as a result of industrial development, ponds are being filled up and roads are being built. Which is extremely harmful. I am traumatized by this, and maybe my protest is reflected in my artwork.

Avijit - I do not maintain any particular scale and composition in my work. If I feel like doing something large, I do it. But I don't like wasting paper. So, if ever a small piece of paper is damaged I try to use it.

In the case of composition, if I start with a layout first, then I do the work as I like.

Avijit - I am inspired by the work of all artists. But I'm more interested in surrealism, which to some extent might be reflected in my work.

Avijit - I will take my work to a better level in the future and involve myself in more ways. I think this art practice is a journey. So, in the meantime I hope new methods and techniques will be reflected in my art practice. Which may be reflected in my new projects.