Samit Das is a versatile artist recognised for his piercing explorations in painting, photography, collages and artist’s books. He crafts multisensory environments through his art and architectural installations. His study involves excavation, themes in history, memory and personal archives that illuminate broader concepts of urbanism and architecture. Das studied Fine Arts at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, and furthered his education at the Camberwell College of Arts in London. His recent exhibitions include solo shows at Art Indus in New Delhi and group exhibitions like Nature of the City with the Religare Art Initiative His practice blends mediums, textures and styles of composition to reflect the complexity of urban landscapes. With an inclination towards sustainability and the historical study of cities, Das invites viewers to scrutinise the elements and narratives that make up their manufactured surroundings.
Labour Movements, Migration, Right of Artisans, Architecture Spaces, Mass Production and Printmaking are the key characters and sutradhars of this narration that focuses on key episodes from 20th century colonial India and the post-independence nation. Alongside, included artists also allude to global events of great significance that have shaped their practice. Reba Hore and Somnath Hore’s studio, located in the Lalbandh area of Santiniketan, stands as both a witness and a participant in this ongoing dialogue. Built by the Hore family who believed deeply in the transformative power of art, the studio is a place where ideology and practice merge seamlessly. A few artists are invited to share the space, to connect the dots between then and now, between Hore’s time and our own. In this context, printmaking is more than a technique; it is a metaphor for the imprint of history on human effort, for the repetition and precision demanded by both art and labour.
