Kamal Mitra Born in Kolkata, 1964
Qualification : 1989 Graduated in painting from Govt. College of art & craft, Kolkata
1993 Post Graduated in Graphic Art from Kala Bhavan, Viswabharati, Santiniketan.
Exhibition : Since 1986 to 2020 Participated in various exhibition at Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, National Exhibition of Art & in Abroad also. 1988 Group show at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata,1989 solo Show at Kolkata.
1992 Group show at Center Art Gallery Kolkata.
1994,2000,2006 group exhibition at Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.
1995, 1997, 2001, 2006 group show at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2000 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2001, 2003 Print Biennal at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.
2004 Group show at Square One Gallery, at NEW YORK.
2006 Group show at Tamarind Art, New York.
2007 solo show at Tamarind art,New York.
2008 group show at ‘Gallery Kolkata’ & Gallery K2 in Kolkata.
2009 & 2011 solo show at Tamarind Art, New York, solo show at Arushi Art, New Delhi.
2017- Group show at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata etc.
2019 Group show at Rabindra Bharati University.
Award : 1987 & 1988 Award in Graphic art from Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, 1991-1993 Awarded National Cultural Scholarship under Human Resource Development, Govt. of India. 1993 Award in graphic art from Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, 1995 & 1996 Award in Graphic Art from Rajya Charu Kala Pradarshani, Govt. of West Bengal. 2000-2002 Awarded Junior Fellowship, under Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. Awarded Senior Fellowship,underMinistry of culture, Govt. of India in the year 2018-2019.
Workshop : 1887 Participted in Graphic camp at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, 2003 Participated in Graphic camp at Santiniketan organized by Lalit Kala Academy, 2005 participated in painting camp at Kolkata organized by Lali Kala Academy. 2006 participated in National Graphic Camp by Lalit Kala Academy. 2008 participated in painting camp at TATA NAGAR, organized by TATA STEEL.
Collection : Works collected by National Gallery of Mordern Art,K. Madhava Narayan Art Foundation, Kerala and several private collection in India and abroad.
About Kamal Mitra’s Works :
While pursuing his Bachelors (Painting) at the Govt. College of Art & Craft, Mitra simultaneously was very interested in printmaking. Abundantly curious he wanted to develop himself as a graphic artist too.
Kamal’s works are preoccupied with addressing the agonies and depressions of the human mind. He feels that a common destiny that people seem to share, is the extreme hardships and ups and downs that inevitably dominates each one of our lives and perhaps the only common destiny that people share today.
Athough highly influenced by the Expressionist movement of the west, Kamal has never been one to potray sentimental exaggerations. Infact, Mitra Says his search is towards a more expressive anatomy.
In his paintings and etchings, Mitra gives equal importance to the content of his work as well as its pictoral / visual and tactile influences on people.
Athough he believes strongly in his content, which he wishes to convey, he is never rigid about content alone.
He gives equal preference to the content and pictorial / visual aspect, as he believes that unless the image making is perfect, the representational image of the theme will be a complete failure.
How he works :
Mitra most definitely builds his works with a preconceived image in his mind composed appropriately to bring forth the concept as well as great visual appeal.
The figures of men women & children in his works have a definite attitude as well as positioning. Mitra derives pleasure from creating an intense tension through the attitude and positioning of the subjects.
The Body plays the main expressive medium. A Torso or simply the back, hands, toes, the intricacy of the veins on their bodies are modes through which Mitra tries to bring forth tension and pressure in the daily life of a human being.
Mitra has been specially influenced by artists like Egon Schiele, Kathe Kollwitch, Gustav Klimt who successfully used the body in their carefully balanced compositions.
Through both his paintings & graphics Mitra brings forth and searches for a more expressive anatomy.
