Every being on this planet has faced adversities at one point in their existence. While they may break some, others might turn them into tales of braveries. That has been the primary focus of contemporary painter and sculptor Jayshree Burman. Burman hails from a family of eminent artists. Her uncle, Sakti Burman, her husband Paresh Maity, and her son Rid Burman are all defined artists in their own rights.
Jayshree Burman
She studied at Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan and the Government College of Art and Craft. She also took print courses from Monsieur Ceizerzi and participated in a graphic art workshop conducted by Paul Lingren. Jayshree Burman’s artistic sensibilities recall a woman’s power. Her work has been displayed across the world – India, Tokyo, London, and New York, to name a few. She created the 2007 commemorative stamps, commissioned by the Government of India. In 1985, she won the National Award.
Jayshree Burman Artist Style
Jayshree Burman dabbles in charcoal, ink, pen, watercolours, mixed media, and oil & acrylic on canvas. Her artwork is essentially a contemporary folk narration. Jayshree Burman’s oeuvre features the recurring motifs of nature, gods, and goddesses. Her deep sensibility of Hindu mythology, Bengali folk literature, and traditional practices is a serene fantasy. Although they are simply paintings and sculptures, her pieces narrate themselves; with an almost lyrical quality. The characters featured in her work depict the tale of life, love, challenge, and conquering them.
Courtesy – Jayshree Burman
Jayshree Burman exhumes herself in her work. She is a perfectionist after all. When you observe her paintings, you will be stunned by the intricate details of texture and cross-hatching carved into her effigies. A painting is seldom considered a static object. Despite this fact, Jayshree Burman’s use of colours and stance pops out. It is as though the subjects of her paintings are in constant motion. Her artwork is a representation of her natural charm.
River of Faith
Jayshree Burman is in awe of nature and its capabilities. Her collection, ‘River of Faith’ is inspired by the fluidity and grandeur of the Ganges. It doesn’t only focus on the Ganga River but also brings into the fold many of its beneficiaries – the plants, fish, and even humans. She patronizes the ever-flowing river and transmutes it into numerous figures – a testament to her unique ability to combine fantasy with reality. They represent a paradox; despair and hope; revitalization and destruction; fertility and barren.
‘River of Faith’ is an origin story, yet there is a charming finality to it. Jayshree Burman personifies the river in the form of a woman and river nymphs. The collection includes both monochromatic and colourful paintings to evoke the fickle mood of human life. Each colour, each line has a meaning. They symbolize vast spaces, and deep thinking, and mostly evoke the spiritual journey one has to undertake.
Dhārā
Dhārā can be considered a spiritual successor to ‘River of Faith.’ It may also be thought of as Jayshree Burman artist diary, depicting her intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth. This collection deals with the themes of womanhood, childbirth, and fertility. She has painted the collection in earthly tones – brown, beige, and terracotta as an allegory of a mother’s connection to her child as that of a human’s connection to the earth.
She takes the audience on a journey describing the origin of life. Jayshree Burman’s collection heavily features plants (grapes and pumpkins), leaves, and trees to simulate the offering of the earth. The collection is Burman’s personal experience, who despite undergoing several miscarriages never lost touch with her feminine urge to create, revive, and bring life – both in the form of her son and her artworks.
Photo Courtesy – India Today
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