It’s exciting to hear about Somnath Maity’s return to Delhi’s art scene, especially with the addition of sculpture to his artistic repertoire. Known for his compelling cityscapes and architectural paintings, Maity’s work often captures the essence and texture of urban spaces. The exhibition at the Visual Art Gallery in the India Habitat Centre, running from October 20 to 28, 2024, offers a fresh perspective on his creativity. For those familiar with his paintings, the addition of sculptures is sure to provide a captivating new experience, as Maity translates his visions of cityscapes and structural elegance into three-dimensional forms. This show marks a significant evolution in his artistic journey, blending his painterly techniques with the tactile language of sculpture.

The exhibition title, Structures, captures a central theme of Somenath’s artistic evolution and resonates deeply with his four-decade-long journey. His shift from experimentation to embracing urban structures as symbols of civilization marks a significant phase in his artistic expression. Instead of depicting these grand buildings realistically, Somenath filters them through an abstract lens, highlighting their symbolic essence rather than their physical form.

Another notable thing about Somenath’s paintings is that most of his canvas is covered with such structures that when viewed separately, they give the impression of a complete painting. Viewing his painting as a whole is a different experience, but there are many of his paintings that give a complete and different experience when viewed in just one part of them.

In his paintings, Somenath translates these observations into a visual language that abstracts the forms of buildings, weaving together geometric and organic elements to express the energy, contradictions, and fluidity of city life. Somenath’s colour palette has also changed a bit lately. Green and blue sky with their mysterious atmosphere is still present in many paintings. Deep blue and green sky is found in very few artists’ works.  Along with this, the use of dark brown and black along with other light colours makes the painting attractive.

Somenath’s sculptures, with their monumental quality and fluidity, seem to embody a unique blend of solidity and movement, offering a dynamic presence that captivates viewers. The idea of liquidity in sculpture suggests that his forms are not rigid but appear to flow, almost as if they are caught in a moment of transformation or emergence. This sense of movement could evoke an emotional or narrative depth, giving the sculptures a life-like quality.  

Dr. Ved Prakash Bhardwaj