Santosh Kumar Sahni from Bihar to showcase dark realities of fishermen community in his maiden show ‘Basant- Expression of Art’

by Suman Gupta

·         Works on display like, ‘Gajgamini’, ‘Shakti’, ‘Lifeboat’, ‘Kashti’, ‘Janani’, ‘Sneh’ and more..

·         Show starts from 23rd March -29th March 2021 at Jehangir Art Gallery

·         If modern art is what intrigues you, this show is for you!

Mumbai, 16^th March 2021: Santosh Kumar Sahni, from Bihar is trying to tell us the classic, dark realities of his world precisely from the Mithila community, from Darbhanga, Bihar. Santosh wasn’t always an artist. He belonged to a fishermen’s community known as the Mallah community. His experience with vibrant colours, came from painting his home during Diwali and festivals since childhood. Santosh Kumar Sahni, is all set to exhibit his works through his first-ever art show ‘Basant- Expression of Art’ in Mumbai from 23rd March -29th March at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kalaghoda, Mumbai.

“The subject of my painting is based on fisherman and their socio-economic, socio-cultural life. I find myself at ease with these subjects as being from a fisherman family. I have had number of experiences of fisherman’s life which reflects in my paintings, these experiences enriched me as a person”, says the artist Santosh Kumar Sahni from Bihar.

While India has its fair share of contemporary art that sits in galleries, a form of modern art is gathering urgency in building a narrative of empathy and focusing action on what really matters. In this show, ‘Basant- Expression of Art’, the mermaid, fisherwoman and their lives which exist in his paintings are nothing but his muse which is composed of woman and fish, which are very attractive, and fickle in nature. The boat and fishing net of fisherman is just not means of earning but have importance beyond description.

Some of the notable works to watch out for are, ‘Gajgamini’, ‘Shakti’, ‘Lifeboat’, ‘Kashti’, ‘Janani’, ‘Sneh’ and more. He says, “My paintings are not just brush strokes or blend of colours on canvas. But it is a convenient medium for me to establish, harmony, increase love, sacrifice, peace, beauty, spirituality and creative development in all the strata of society. I closely observed and encountered the various experience of life, truth, ugliness of these fishermen society. I felt the pangs of their hardships and Joy of their spirits, their struggles to make both ends meet. Despite life snatching struggle, they adapt themselves to every situation of life or seasons like sultering and scorching heat, downpour, cold etc. They survive with pride by defeating man- made or destiny- made hurdles. They earn their bread & butter through various means like fisheries, Makhana (fox nuts) production and many other works”.

Beauty of mermaid is incredible and looks like a nymph; on the other hand fisherman appears rigid and rough. He further adds, “My subjects also show the contradictions of this world and all the universal elements whether the life of man, mermaid or someone else. Somehow, every living being is striving for to prove his existence. I have made efforts to reflect rural life as well as to address the problem of urban life. My journey of colour and brush, also includes the urban-public life issues with subtleness on the subject namely absolution, spiritual realization and surreal fantasy”.  His works have been exhibited in tbe past in several notable group shows in countries like Australia, Bangkok, Canada, Los Angeles, Nepal, France, New York, San Jose and Moscow.

Mumbaikars can take a look at these masterpieces from 23rd March -29th March at Jehangir Art Gallery, Kalaghoda, Mumbai. Don’t miss it, if modern art is what intrigues you!