Hiran Mitra Explained

Hiran Mitra (born 1945) is an Indian artist based in Kolkata (West Bengal, India). He left his ancestral country home in Kharagpur to study Fine Art in the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata at the age of 14. His paintings are energetic abstract gestural paintings with the choreography of the human body observed from folk dance having influenced his recent calligraphic forms .^{[1] [2]} He has contributed significantly to the visual stimulus in eastern Indian films,^[3] television, theatre^[4] and literature since in the 1980s [. He is also known to have defined a benchmark for book cover design for contemporary Bengali literature.<ref>[http://boipara.blogspot.com/2007/09/portraits-and-writings-by-hiran-mitra.html Portraits and writings by Hiran Mitra in Bengali Little Magazine] His paintings are statements on the human condition and the twilight zones of reality and time. Bold brush strokes, layered washes and sprays and unconventional use of acrylic and industrial paints characterize his paintings. He is part of the Open Window Artist group and has been part of the Painters 80 Artist group in Kolkata.

Works

Selected exhibitions

Solo exhibitions

• 2007
  Written Image–Paintings & Installation–Oct 2007. Gallery Yapanchitra, India

Form and Color–Paintings of Hiran Mitra–Gallery Thuillier, Paris, Oct 2007
Paper Landscapes, Works on paper, at Gallery 27, London, Mar 2007
Book Launch: Shadows–monography (Ed. FDW France, Gerard Xuriguera)

• 2006
  Inner Sensation, recent paintings by Hiran Mitra, Gallery 27, London
• 2003
  Works of Movement in Dance, Theatre, Rabindra Sadan, Kolkata
• 2002
  "Journey with Rang Number", Academy of Fine Arts Kolkata, Performance, Installation.
• 2000
  Right line Gallery, Bangalore
• 1997
  Gaganendra Chitrashala, Calcutta
• 1995
  Graphics on film, Nandan Film & Cultural centre, Calcutta
• 1995
  Retrospective of two decades 70s–80s, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta
• 1991
  Paintings inspired by Voices of Baul Music, Calcutta School of Music
• 1980
  Paintings, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta
• 1969
  Paintings & Drawings, Birla Academy of Arts & Culture, Calcutta
• 1966
  Paintings & Drawings, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta

Group shows (selection) and international art bi-annuals

• 2008
  Art Full of Bag—An installation concerning the Indian Art Market, Indian Society of Contemporary Artists at Birla Academy, *June 2008
  Fusion III, Art Mosaic Gallery, August 2008
• 2007
  Biennale dell Arte Contemporane di Firenze, Florence Italy
  Open Window group–Art Context gallery, Singapore
• 2006
  Who Do you think I am ? Gallery in Cork Street, London
  Gallery La Mere, Annual group Show, Kolkata
• 2005
  "Color Palette" Habitat Centre, New Delhi
  Special artists show, CIMA Kolkata
  Visual Art Gallery–New Delhi
• 2004
  "Contemporary Forms", Cima Gallery, Kolkata
  Indian Contemporary Art–Eleven Artists, Hart Gallery, Beijing
• 2003
  Birla Acandemy of Art & Culture
  Art of Bengal, CIMA Gallery, Mumbai
• 2001
  "Collections d’Hiver", Galerie Jacob, Paris
• 2000
  "Art & Bread, Kunst au Indien", Curated by Hannalore Christ, Hamburg
  "Contemporary Indian Artists", Birla Academy of Fine Arts, Bangalore
  Painters 80, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta
  "Art for Heart", Indian National Museum, Calcutta
  Artists of the Millennium, Townhall Museum, Calcutta
• 1999
  The Contemporary Indian Art Show, Birla Academy, New Delhi & Mumbai
  Abstract Trends International, curated Dr Archana Roy,– Birla Academy, Calcutta

Painters 80, Jehangir Art Gallery Mumbai

• 1998
  "All India Show", Birla Academy New Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore, Calcutta
  Bengal Artists, Birla Academy of Arts & culture, Calcutta
• 1997
  Eisenstein in the eyes on Artists, graphic sketches, Gorky Sadan, Calcutta
• 1996
  "All India Show"—Guest Artist, Birla Academy New Delhi, Bombay, Bangalore.
• 1969
  Emerging Artists of Bengal, French Cultural Centre, Calcutta

Public collections

• Indian National Museum, Nimai Chatterji collection in Tate Modern,
• Museum of Contemporary Art Dunkerque.

Publications and media / editions

• "Shadows"–Monograph of three decades of works on paper, foreword Gerard Xuriguera, Edition FDW France
• Painter of the Month: Guest, BBC World Service, hosted by Aminul Haque May 1997.
• "International Art ?", by Arun Ghosh, (art critic) Calcutta Metropolitan Festival of Art, Edition1997.
• "Film & Art", by Pralay Sur (Film critic) Nandan Film Institute.
• "Modern Art in traditional Rural Painting of Bengal"
• "Poetry in Paintings: Four Eminent Poets of Bengal", Volume 1 & 2, Illustrated with paintings of Hiran Mitra.
• "Art & Society", by Hiran Mitra, Abaad publications, 1996.
• 1980–99 Essays on Art, Film & Social Behaviour in major daily newspapers.

Art projects (selection)

• Art Full of Bag, Installation/Workshop, Birla Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata 2008
• Scene design with 10m x 6m Canvas, for the Modern drama Tista paarer brithantho
• Journey with Rang Number, 2002, http://www.Suman Mukhopadhyay.com/html/rangnumber.asp
• Visual Vibrations, live painting with contemporary music performance
• The Chau Dancers of Purulia: study on movement and body language from Dance theatre to Painting
• Various Workshops exploring Visual Arts relationship to Body Language–Naya Theatre, with Habib Tanvir Dance Company
• Padatik Troupe, Chetna Jalan Show, Nabonittya, Chetana Theatre Group
• Art Workshop with various Indian artists–Lalit Kala Academy, Manipur

Film and theatre art direction

Film

• Necklace (released 2011), directed by Shekhar Das
• Mohanagar@Kolkata (Released 2010): Suman Mukhophadyay^[5]
• Chaturanga (Released: 2008)Suman Mukhophadyay^[6]
• Herbert (released 2005), screenplay and direction by Suman Mukhophadyay^[7]
• Moholboner Sereng (released 2005)
• Shomoy (released 1986): Goutom Chatterjee
• Nagbotee (released 1981): Goutom Chatterjee
• Letter to Mom (released 1988): Gutom Chaterjee
• Protee Bimbo (released 1971): Shoron Dey

Theatre

• Shunno Thekey (premiered 2011): Suman Mukhopadhyay
• Shesher Kobita (premiered 2011): Suman Mukhopadhyay
• Debi Shorpo-mastha (premiered 2011): Debesh Chattyapadhay
• Tota Kahini (released 2011): Abhishek Basu
• Chena Sukh Chena Dukhho (premiered 2011): Debesh Chattyapadhay
• Bikeley Bhorey Shorshey Phool (Premiered 2011): Debesh Chattyapadhay
• Dream Dream (Premiered 2010): Debesh Chattyapadhay
• King Lear (Premiered 2010): Suman Mukhopadhyay
• Maan Bhonjon (Premieredd 2010): Shohon Natya goshtee
• Dhorai Chorith Manosh (premiered 2010): Abhishek Basu
• Dibaratreer Kabyo (Premiered 2009): Arun Mukherjee
• Nirnoy (Premiered 2008): Arun Mukherjee
• Meyeti (premiered 2008): by Kishore Sengupta, Featuring Goutam Halder & Bindhya Ghosh,^[8]
• Kalanthok Lal Phithey (premiered 2005): Suman Mukhpadhyay
• Phalguni (Premiered 2004): Suman Mukhapadhyay
• Baborer Prarthona (premiered 2007): Kishore Sengupta
• Hariey Jaey Manoosh (premiered 2005): Kishore Sengupta
• Shomoy Ashomoyer Brittyanta (Premiered 2002): Suman Mukhapadhyay
• Tista Barer Brittyanta (Premiered 2000): Suman Mukhapadhyay ^[9]
• Anamni Angana (Premiered 1976): Neela Sen/Konica Sarkar
• Shajahan (Premiered 1964): Jochchon Dastidar

Album cover designs

• Aabaar Bochhor Kuri Pore (1995)
• Jhora Somoyer Gaan (1996)

Awards

• Residency, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, Government of India
• 1969, 70, 71 Gold Medal, Academy of Fine Arts, All India Emerging Artist

External links

• More information and images on www.SaatchiGallery.com
• More Images on Kolkata Gallery
• More images on Saffronart.com
• Further images and artist biography from www.artborderline.com
• Article in India Today, Sarbani Sen http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/Centre%20stage/0/12304.html

Notes and References

1. Web site: 17 May 2008 . Florence Biennale 2007 - Focus on: Hiran Mitra - Part 1 . florencebiennale . YouTube.
2. Web site: Hiran Mitra . 2023-01-25 . Saatchi Art . en.
3. http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/200568.htm 68th Annual BFJA Awards 2005, Art Direction
4. Web site: Teesta Barer Brittanto . 25 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080828223035/http://www.ias.berkeley.edu/southasia/teesta.html . 28 August 2008 . dead .
5. Web site: MAHANAGAR@KOLKATA: A film by Suman Mukhopadhya . https://web.archive.org/web/20100209084112/http://www.sumanmukhopadhyay.com/html/mahanagar_credits.asp . 9 February 2010 . sumanmukhopadhyay.com.
6. Web site: Chaturanga - four chapters . https://web.archive.org/web/20120331070557/http://www.chaturangathefilm.in/html/crew.asp . 31 March 2012 . 23 January 2012 . chaturangathefilm.in.
7. Web site: HERBERT . https://web.archive.org/web/20090522133242/http://www.sumanmukhopadhyay.com/html/herbert.asp . 22 May 2009 . sumanmukhopadhyay.com.
8. Web site: The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) Metro Timeout . www.telegraphindia.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080108194937/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080105/jsp/calcutta/story_8729275.jsp . 2008-01-08.
9. Web site: TEESTA PAARER BRITTANTO (Story of the banks of river Teesta) . https://web.archive.org/web/20090522204100/http://www.sumanmukhopadhyay.com/html/teestapaarerbrittanto.asp . 22 May 2009 . sumanmukhopadhyay.com.