LATITUDE 28 gallery presented a solo show of Chandan Bez Baruah, “Elsewhere In Northeast India”, at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, curated by Waswo X. Waswo. The show will open on 12th August 2024. This exhibition calls for quiet contemplation, encouraging an appreciation of the delicate interplay between nature and human experience. Chandan’s intricate woodcuts reveal Assam’s stark undergrowth, reflecting on history, culture, and contemporary conflict. His photorealist style, crafted on medium-density wood fibre, invites viewers to experience the beauty and complexity of Northeast India through his eyes. Born in Nagaon and later moving to Guwahati, Chandan found solace in the forests, escaping urban congestion. His works evoke an intimate journey through the jungle, silently observing the landscape’s beauty and significance.
Chandan’s art, coaxed from wooden boards, evokes an intimate journey through the jungle, inviting us to silently observe the beauty and significance of his most treasured haunts. Through Chandan’s eyes, we experience the forest as a young man who has shared moments with soldiers and nature, deeply connecting with the landscape.
His works, meticulously carved on medium-density wood-fibre matrices from digital photographs, showcase his astounding hand-craftsmanship. The photorealist style he employs is complicated by the chaotic beauty of the scenes, diverging from traditional orderly compositions. “Elsewhere in Northeast India” invites viewers to witness the hidden wonders of nature through Chandan’s intricate woodcuts. This exhibition calls for quiet contemplation, encouraging an appreciation of the delicate interplay between nature and human experience.
‘With this new body of work and exhibition, Chandan wants to speak to us through his eyes rather than ears. His wondrously elaborate renditions of Northeast landscapes are still a main subject, but intrusions have crept in: shacks, bulldozers, unfinished construction, trucks collecting garbage, and chain-link fences. People, too, make their first appearance in Chandan’s oeuvre, representing the marginalized. This is an expansion of the subject matter and the maturing of an artist whose draftsmanship, technical skills, and hard work were never in question. His visualizations powerfully lay claim to a more deeply aware social and aesthetic ground. Chandan’s works still seduce us with the sublime, but he has now opened his ears and expanded his eyes. He has also opened his talents and refined them, impressing us with his technical skills and leaving us in awe. There is beauty and ugliness here, made present via exquisitely crafted woodcuts. Are they in harmony with one another? Chandan Bez Baruah asks us to consider this deeply and find the truth within’, writes Waswo X. Waswo in his curatorial note.
“Chandan’s ability to translate the chaotic beauty of Assam’s undergrowth into meticulously detailed woodcuts is truly remarkable. His work showcases his extraordinary craftsmanship and deep connection with the land and its history. By presenting these scenes through his eyes, we can experience the serenity, conflict, and rich cultural tapestry of Northeast India in an immersive and enlightening way. This exhibition is a testament to Chandan’s talent and his unique vision. We invite art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike to join us at Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, to witness the profound beauty of ‘Elsewhere in Northeast India’ and to engage with the silent revelations that Chandan so eloquently presents through his art”, said Bhavna Kakar, Founder-Director, LATITUDE 28.
