In his formative years, he was inspired by the multitude of characters in his neighbourhood. His imagination was constantly fuelled and stimulated by the various characters that inhabited his village. His visual eye discerned the esoteric in them and enabled him to develop a style that eventually would set the tone for a distinct adaptation of European modernism to an Indian context, a unique ethos Indian figures being created through the structuralism of the global.
Paritosh Sen was born in Dhaka in Bangladesh in 1918. A painter, illustrator, tutor and writer, he has been an integral part of the world of Indian art for almost four decades now. He secured a Diploma in Fine Arts from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai . In 1942, he moved to Calcutta and subsequently formed the Calcutta Group in 1943 alongwith other artists. He left for Paris in 1949 to study further. He attended art classes at various institutes there including the renowned Ecole des Beaux Arts. Meeting Picasso remains a landmark in his life.
Paritosh Sen wrote on art in leading English and Bengali journals. In 1986, he wrote and illustrated a story in English that was published by National institute of Design, Ahmedabad. In 1999, his biographical film, ‘One Day in the Life of a Celebrity’ was broadcast by Doordarshan, Calcutta.
His style of representation is influenced by his exposure to Western Modern Art, and has traces of Cubism. He uses two dimensional, structural planes but stil l creates an illusion of voluptuousness.
In the course of his career, Sen's style of painting has undergone many changes. From the stylized to the voluminous, expressionist figures, he has traversed a long way. But there are continuities. For example, the drawing with bold, vigorous strokes, the use of volume m the figuration and sharp irony have been impressive elements in his work. Since 1991, his work has become more sensuous and he uses more exuberant colors.
He lives and works in Calcutta.
Education
1949-54 Studied at Paris at Andre Lhote’s School, Academy Grand Chaumier, Ecole des Beaux Arts ( Mural Painting) and at Ecole des Louvre (History of painting), Paris
1936-40 Government College of Arts and Crafts, Chennai
Selected Posthumous Exhibitions
2012-13 'Calcutta Chromosome', The Viewing Room, Mumbai
2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
2011 ‘Manifestations VI', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Goddess, Lion, Peasant, Priest: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', from the Collection of Shelley and Donald Rubin at Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 AkarPrakar, Kolkata
2010 'Figure/Landscape: Part One', Aicon Gallery, New York
2010 'Evolve: 10th Anniversary Show', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai', Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2010 Annual Exhibition, Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 'Black is Beautiful', India Fine Art, Mumbai
2010 'Essential, Eclectic,...Ephemeral', The Harrington Mansions, Kolkata
2009 'Modern Continuous', Galerie 88, Kolkata
2009 'Indian Art After Independence: Selected Works from the Collections of Virginia & Ravi Akhoury and Shelley & Donald Rubin', Emile Lowe Gallery, Hempstead
2009 'The Root of Everything', Gallery Mementos, Bangalore
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2008 ‘Paritosh at 88’, Project 88, Mumbai
2007 ‘Paritosh at 88’, Galerie 88, Mumbai
2002 ‘Retrospective’, Artworld, Chennai
2002 ‘Retrospective’, Lalit Kala Academy, Chennai
2001 ‘Mini Retrospective Show’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1998 ‘Works on Paper’, Lakereen Art Gallery, Mumbai
1992 ‘Acrylics as Water Colors’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1991 ‘Instant Images’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1989 ‘Self Portraits’, The Village Gallery, New Delhi
1973 Gallery Sanskriti, New Delhi
1967 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
1965 Gallery Chemould, Kolkata
1962 London
1950 Brussels
Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 'Moderns', Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Embassy of India, Amman, Jordan
2008 'Frame Figure Field: 20th Century Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 ‘Freedom 2008 – Sixty Years after Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
2008 'Tales, Reflection and Constructs', ITC Windsor, Bangalore
2007 ‘Colors of Art’, Presented by Galerie Sara Arakkal and Gallery Art Resource Trust at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ’12 Artists’, Presented by AkarPrakar at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 'Drawing Show an Act of Art II', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
1993 ‘Wounds’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
1992 ‘Confluence ‘92’, Kolkata
1984 Four Indian Partners, Stockholm, Sweden
1972 Four Indian Partners, Pittsburgh, USA
1951 Calcutta Group – Progressive Art Group (PAG) Joint Exhibition, Kolkata
1944 First Calcutta Group Exhibition, Services Club, Kolkata
Joint Exhibitions
2006 With Tyeb Mehta, Gallery One, London
Participations
1986 2nd Havana Biennale, Cuba
1965 Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
1965 The Commonwealth Arts Festival, London
Honours and Awards
2004 Lalit Kala Ratna, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1999 AbanGaganPuruskar, Viswabharti University, Santiniketan
1998 HirachandDugar Award, Kolkata
1998 Smt. Bijoya Chakraborty Smriti Puraskar, Kolkata
1998 Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata
1997 Outstanding Citizen Award from The English Speaking Union
1996 Kalidas Nag Award
1995 West Bengal State Lalit Kala Prize for Achievement in Art
1991 Conferred Hony. Doctor of Literature, University of Burdwan, West Bengal
1986 Conferred Fellowship, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
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