Santosh Kumar Sahni
Artist statement
My paintings are not just brush strokes or a mixture of colors on canvas. But it is a convenient medium for me. According to the Indian scripture Vedas, a man who does not have art is like an animal. Art is the best way to establish harmony, love, sacrifice, peace, beauty, spirituality, enhance creativity and ensure development in every section of the society. The art culture of Mithila has been very rich due to the grace of Adi Shakti Mata Janaki. The subjects I try to portray in a modern way. The subject of my painting is based on the fisherman and his social life. I find myself comfortable with these subjects as a fishing family. I have many experiences from the life of a fisherman which are reflected in my paintings. These experiences enriched me socio-economic, socio-cultural life and hence, the beauty of abstraction and maturity of subjects accompany my artwork. I have closely observed and experienced the various experiences of life, truth, ugliness of these fishermen.
community. I felt the pain of their hardships and the joy of their enthusiasm, their struggle to make ends meet. Despite the struggle to snatch life, they adapt themselves to every situation of life or seasons like humidity and scorching heat, sloppy, cold etc. They live proudly by defeating man-made or destiny-made obstacles. They earn their bread and butter through various means like fisheries, makhana production, mango, litchi and many other activities. Mermaid, fisherman and their life which are present in my painting is my collection. Which is composed of woman and fish, which are very attractive, enjoyable and playful in nature. The beauty of the mermaid is incredible and looks like a nymph, on the other hand the fisherman appears hard and rough. This reflection indicates about the truth of life that softness and hardness, beauty and roughness are mermaid (woman) and fisherman (man). All these dualisms are essential for life, one needs the other to be fulfilled. The fisherman's boat and fishing net are not just a means of earning but have a value beyond description. My subjects also show the contradictions of this world and all the universal elements, be it the life of man, mermaid or anyone else. Every living being in the world is trying in some way or the other for the existence of Siddha. I have tried to reflect the rural life as well as address the problem of urban life.
Keeping in mind the understanding of human sensibilities and complexities, I painted the inner spirit of the society through paint, brush, charcoal etc. Inspired by the rural lifestyle I have attached, the pictures give importance to the cleverness and beauty of the village. In my journey of color and brush, my paintings also subtly incorporate the issues of urban-public life. I feel immense pleasure in creating works of art on these subjects, such as salvation, spiritual realization and surreal imagination. These are the three main points of art. Because of this knowledge, I am soul in art with my faith. Which is capable of leading to a mesmerizing light in creative development. But it is certain that I put all these subjects in front of the society through my painting which have been present in the society for centuries as subject like love, beauty, exploitation, struggle, emotions, real, abstract, ancient, modern and Forever live in some new forms. It is my only mission to make them come true through my collection.
