Barun Chowdhury

BORN
1971 Midnapore, West Bengal

EDUCATION QUALIFICATIONS
1997-99 MFA in Graphic Arts, College of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1991-96 BFA in Visual Arts Painting, Government College of Arts and Crafts, University, Calcutta
1989-91 Diploma in Painting, Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, affiliated to Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2008 The Season of Discontent, Aakriti Gallery, Kolkata
2003 New Prints, Glasgow Print Studio, Gallery III, Glasgow
2000 Nazar Art Gallery, Baroda.

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2009 New Perspectives of India, Avanthay Contemporary, Zurich
2008 Freshly Squeezed The Young Indian Contemporaries, Suchitrra Arts, Mumbai
2007 Freedom What it Means To Me, Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2007 Confronting Globalization, Mon Art Gallerie, Kolkata
2007 Modern to Contemporary, Gallery Kolkata, Kolkata
2007 Ten Days in Aurangabad, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai
2007 Team Unteamed -II, Art Konsult, New Delhi
2007 Influences, Lanxess ABS Gallery, Baroda
2006 Gen Next, Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2006 Intentions, Kaleidoscope Art Gallery, Baroda
2006 Feb Show, Lanxess ABS Gallery, Baroda
2006 Online Show at Saffronart
2005 In Short, Hacienda Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 Generations to and fro, Kaleidoscope Art Gallery, Baroda
2004 Human Traffic - New Communities, Gallery-III, Glasgow
2003 Voice Against Violence, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
2002 The Banyan City, Nazar Art Gallery, Baroda
2002 Kitsch Kitsch Hota Hai, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
2000 Print Show Graphic Expressions, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai, C.P. Art Centre, Chennai, Center for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata and New Delhi
2000 Group Exhibition of Paintings and Prints, Galerie 88, Kolkata
2000 Prints 2000, A Group Exhibition of Serigraph Prints, Gallery Art Core, Baroda
1999 Made in India, Exhibition of Prints, Gallery Gauche, Paris
1999 Let's See, A Group Exhibition of Five Young Print Makers, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1999 Let's See, A Group Exhibition of Three Young Print Makers, Gallery Lakeeren, Mumbai
1999 Display of Prints, Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai
1999 Paintings and Prints, Pradarshak Art Gallery, Mumbai
1999 A Group Exhibition of Prints, Nazar Art Gallery, Baroda
1999 Ravi Jain Memorial Show, Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi
1999 Contemporary Art Exhibition of Avantika, New Delhi and Gwalior
1998 Exhibition of Prints, Tasmiya Art House, Sahabad, Gulbarga, Karnataka
1998 Exhibition during Fine Arts Fair, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1997 50 Years of Independence, Exhibition by the Students of Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1997 50 years of Independent India, West Bengal, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1995 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata

PARTICIPATIONS
2009 The Miniature Format Show, Sans Tache Gallery, Mumbai
2004 43rd National Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Lucknow
2004 Harmony Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2002 Annual Winter Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Gallerie 88, Mumbai, Calcutta and New Delhi
2002 Harmony Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2001 Harmony Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2000 Harmony Show, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2000 42nd National Art Exhibition, Jaipur and New Delhi
2000 Kala Ghoda, organized by Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2000 Miniature Format Show, Sans Tache Art Gallery, Mumbai
1999 3rd Triennial of Egyptian Prints, Egypt
1999 Miniature Format Show, Sans Tache Art Gallery, Bombay
1999 Annual Exhibition of the Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar
1999 Annual Exhibition of Graphic Prints, Department of Graphics, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1999 Screen Printing Exhibition, Western Zone Cultural Centre, Rajasthan
1999 All India Art Exhibition, Chandigarh, Punjab
1999 65th All India Art Exhibition, Amritsar, Punjab
1998 41st National Art Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1998 70th All India Art Exhibition of Graphics, All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1998 Annual Exhibition of the Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar
1997 40th National Contemporary Art Exhibition, Bangalore
1997 International Print Exhibition, Kanagawa, Japan
1997 11th All India Art Exhibition, South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur
1993,96 West Bengal State Academy Annual Exhibition, Calcutta
1992,93,96 Calcutta Information Centre Annual Exhibition, Calcutta
Calcutta Academy of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition 1993 and 1995

HONORS AND AWARD
2003, 04 Commonwealth Art and Craft Award, UK
2003 Charles Wallace India Trust Art Award, Glasgow
1999 65th All India Art Exhibition, Amritsar
1999 Annual Avantika Award, 7th All India Exhibition, New Delhi
1998 Fellowship Award, All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1992, 1994, 1996 Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta
1994 Annual Art Award for Best Print, Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta
1992 Annual Art Exhibition Award for Best Watercolour, Calcutta Information Centre, Calcutta

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Barun was introduced to the arts through a diploma course in painting from the Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, Calcutta, in 1989. After completing it in 1991, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Painting from the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta University, Calcutta, in 1996. He completed his Masters in Graphic Design from the College of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda, in 1999.

"I am only concerned with what I want to do and hence I use my visual language (be it painting, posters or illustrations, or any other form) freely to maximize the effect of my work."

For Barun, it is not relevant whether he is called a painter or a printmaker, as what matters is the final product. Be it painting, sketches, silkscreen, or even three-dimensional, these are just means that the artist has to capture his ideas in a visual format. Each of the artist's works has a visual appeal at first glance and upon closer inspection, one can appreciate their message, which is often a critique of the current socio-political scenario.

His works continuously reflect his ideas about the current socio-political situation and the perpetual change and transition of life and environment leading to the confusion of the common man about his very purpose of survival. The narratives are often presented in a storyboard-like presentation. Entire canvases are segregated into boxes, indicating different time frames and the non-existence of permanence. Most importantly, this is also an indication of the artist's belief that reality is not what it appears to be from the outside.

Barun has always favored realistic imagery, staying away from abstraction with the view that the viewers, the common man, have a greater chance of relating and identifying with realistic imagery in his works. He uses folk and kitsch imagery in abundance in a continuous effort to maintain an Indianness in his works, which is not just traditional, but our modern cosmopolitan culture. It is a combination of Indian culture and modernity. This Indianness becomes an integral part of the artist's thought process.

Barun also uses images of himself as a symbol of the common man. Born in Khelar, a village in West Bengal, the artist finds it easy to identify with the rural people who form a major part of the country's population.

Barun, as an artist, wishes to fulfill what he believes to be his duty as an artist, to transport the viewer into the realm of his perception of the present world. His works are in the form of a realistic dialogue and the choice of medium depends solely on his ability to achieve the desired effect for the particular subject. The artist has worked in various fundamental media such as watercolors, oils, acrylics, pencils, and pastels and also in three-dimensional using molds, mirrors, and glass.

Screen printing remains one of Barun's favorite mediums. It allows the artist to place any image anywhere. The freedom is not available in some of the other mediums. Although the artist has a preconceived plan, this allows him to make changes even later.

The artist resides and works in Baroda.

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