Kolkata-based artist Arjun Das, from Giridih in Jharkhand, has led an extraordinary journey from very humble beginnings to presenting his work at a global platform and even reaching global acclaim in the art world. When Arjun was 10 years old, he left for Kolkata, where he did part-time work at restaurants to support himself through education. Overlooking all the hardships he faced, his love for art only intensified, which led him to a master’s in sculpture at Rabindra Bharati University, which he completed in 2017.
In fact, for Arjun, the crucial turning point was back in 2018, when he won the Abir India First Take award. Reflecting on the triumph, he said, “It came at a time when I needed motivation. It introduced me to a network of artists and mentors, including Ravinder Reddy and Amit Ambalal, whose guidance has been invaluable.” These interactions made him clear about where he was headed, encouraged him and inspired him to hone his craft.
Last year, Arjun did an art residency in the Netherlands, which he said really changed him. Upon his return from this residency, he was already more confident about the body of work that he had developed. It was quite enough to prompt him to apply for the very-coveted Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation grant, which came through information from senior artists. It is with such a rich proposal on production costs for exhibitions to come, like one at the India Art Fair in February and another in July that he received an approval. “It’s a tremendous encouragement, both financially and emotionally,” he said.
Platforms such as Abir India provide that crucial early push for such emerging artists, Arjun believes. “Abir India provides the first push when you are starting off.”. It’s not only the win, but exposure and connections, he said. As he prepares to have hectic exhibitions and further growth in work, his story speaks for how early support can have a way reach success at a world level. He said that being given the grant in 2024 was very satisfying and a great boost to his career and aspirations. This is a source of inspiration for aspiring artists as persistence and opportunities can lead to worldwide recognition.
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