Benode Behari Mukherjee

Mjesto: Behala

Rođen: 1904

Smrt: 1980

Biografija:

Benode Behari Mukherjee was a renowned Indian artist, born on February 7, 1904, in West Bengal. He is considered one of the pioneers of Indian modern art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism. Mukherjee's work has been crucial to the development of Kala Bhavana, the art school at Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal.

Early Life and Education

Mukherjee was educated at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, where he studied under the guidance of Nandalal Bose. He became a painter, muralist, scholar, and teacher, known for his unique style and technique. Mukherjee's work was influenced by Western modern art and the spirituality of oriental traditions.

Artistic Style and Contributions

Mukherjee's artistic style is characterized by its complex fusion of idioms absorbed from Western modern art and the spirituality of oriental traditions. He took lessons in calligraphy from travelling artists from Japan and was influenced by Indian miniature paintings, Ajanta cave paintings, and other traditional Indian art forms. His notable works include murals at Hindi Bhavan, Santiniketan, which are considered among the greatest achievements in contemporary Indian painting.

• He was one of the earliest artists in modern India to take up murals as a mode of artistic expression.
• His style was a complex fusion of idioms absorbed from Western modern art and the spirituality of oriental traditions.
• Mukherjee's work has been crucial to the development of Kala Bhavana, the art school at Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Mukherjee's notable works include Chrysanthemum with a Green Bird, which is housed in the National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi, India). His other notable works include Shahnaiwala and Binodini. Mukherjee's work has been exhibited at various museums, including the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. Important aspects of Mukherjee's life and work include his struggles with blindness, which did not deter him from continuing to paint and create murals. His former student, filmmaker Satyajit Ray, made a documentary film on him titled The Inner Eye, which is an intimate investigation of Mukherjee's creative persona.

Awards and Honors

Mukherjee received the Padma Vibhushan award in 1974 and was conferred with the Deshikottama by Visva Bharati University in 1977. He also received the Rabindra Puraskar in 1980. Mukherjee's legacy continues to be celebrated through his work, which is now housed in various museums, including the National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi, India). His contributions to Indian modern art are undeniable, and his unique style and technique continue to inspire artists today.