Kishore Pratim Biswas

BORN
1971 in Kolkata, West Bengal.

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata in 1997

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
The Green, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata in 1996
Steam Locomotive Nostalgia, Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai in 2014
Indian locomotives outside the museum, Lalit Kala Akademy, Delhi in 2015
Nostalgia Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in 2018
Nostalgia for steam locomotives, National Railway Museum, Delhi in 2018
Nostalgia, Heritage Transport Museum, Delhi in 2018

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata in 1995
Summer Gathering Gallery 88, Kolkata in 2002
Art flute, Bangalore in 2009
JS Art Gallery, Mumbai in 2013
JS Art Gallery Curenta Group Show, Dubai, 2015
JS Art Gallery, Mumbai, 2015
Three Dimensional Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore, 2015
Curenta Group Exhibition by Art Karna, Dubai, 2015
Art Beyond Borders by Art Mudra, Dubai, 2016
Spring Color by Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, 2016
The Art Conclave by ICAC, Mumbai, 2016
Lands within by The Egg Art Studio, Delhi, 2016
Summer Art by ICAS - Vilas Fine Art, London, 2016
Art & Abode by Stanley Boutique and Art Vault, Delhi 2017
Summer Art by ICAS - Vilas Fine Art, London, 2018
Thrang by Painted Rhythm Art Gallery, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, 2022
Ficci Flo de banyan Art Gallery, Hyatt Regency, Ludhiana, 2022
Palash Academy of Fine Arts by CARDS, Kolkata, 2022

PARTICIPATIONS
Kolkata Academy of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
State Academy Annual Exhibition in 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Government College of Art & Craft Annual Exhibition, Kolkata in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996
Annual Exhibition of the Society of Oriental Arts in 1993, 1994, 1995

HONORS AND AWARD
Sunil Das Award from the Government College of Art & Craft in 1995

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nostalgia is a paintings exhibition on Indian steam Locomotives by Kishore Pratim Biswas At Jehangir Art Gallery from 9th to 15th April.

Whether its about showcasing Indian railways of the early 70s or celebrating the Indian Steam Locomotives, Kishore Pratim Biswass series of paintings on steam locomotives depict an idiosyncratic collection. A Mumbai-based artist, each of Mr. Biswass paintings tells the story of the daily life of the steam locomotive workshop of the 70s Indian Railways.

Kishore Pratim Biswas was born in 1971 in Kolkata - The city of joy. His work has been showcased at several solo and group exhibitions in India and abroad. The artist skilfully combines several versatile techniques. He experiments with different painting styles to continuously improve his skills.

Indian Steam Locomotives had an unusual character which reflects in my paintings. The colors of the engine were mostly black and grey, while the body looked too muddy, dusty and unclean which gave it is surface a unique look that lent the locomotives a distinct character. I have never found anything as interesting as these locomotives in the world. I liked the ineffable ambiance of white steam and black engine which is a dramatic visual experience for me. I feel crazy when I see these locomotives and love to do its live painting on watercolor, oil, pen and ink sketch, says Kishore.

Although these beauties are no longer in action, they continue to fascinate me. I used to regularly go to the railway workshop in the mornings to sketch the locomotives when I was in Calcutta. However, one particular day in the early 90s turned out to be a very sad day for me. I saw the engines being dismantled and sent away as scrap as the steam locomotives were no longer being operated. It was a very shocking experience for me and I was left in tears realizing that it also meant that I could no longer finish my series on the Indian Steam Locomotives, he adds.

Each painting captures a unique group of locomotive workers which reflects the artists close observation of people in the Indian Railways of the 70s.

I have captured the movement of people including the fireman, signalman, technical man, motorman and others working in the locomotive workshops. My paintings always have a deep expression of the characters, the faces have beards and are too dark with a red pagri( turban)which looks very unusual, says Kishore.

Sometimes I rode in the engine with the motorman. It was a remarkable experience. I got to witness how they work at close quarters. The engine used to be very hot and they had to spend a lot of time in it and yet they kept a smiling face and never complained he says.

Its a glimpse into the lives of 70s Indian railways.

Im happy because when I look at my canvas, I dont have to compare my work with others, since my subject is such. I dont compare the way I look, the way I feel, the work that I do. I dont compare my level of happiness. I dont compare my achievements because I have spent so many years painting the subject of my choice. I feel I am incomparable and I dont believe in this race of who is better than whom concludes Kishore.

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