Artists revisit childhood memories

From empty rooms and tattered books to protractors and compasses -- all things reminiscent of childhood nostalgia are being revisited by two artists at a new art show here.
Dilip Chobisa and Tanmoy Samanta have recreated elements from their childhood memories in the form of works of art that are on display as part of an exhibition A (Void) at Gallery Espace here.
Samanta describes his art works as "little spaces of memories". In one of her works, he has transformed his recollections as a boy into a moonscape using geometrical instruments.
"These art works signify the little spaces and throbs of my childhood life. The empty spaces that evolve in the process of my art making are actually deeply-layered, introspective and open-ended," says Samanta.

However, the artist says, he prefers to subtract sentiments from his work in favour of a more complex evocation of belonging.
His other works include three dimensional books made out of pages of old books. He then adds layers of rice paper and creatively digs out new shapes through layered pages.

"The final object is only the cover of a book that reveals another world held within those pages," he says.
In Chobisa's graphite on paper sketches, images of stairways, windows and doors are recurrent.
"Through these sketches I am trying to portray the feeling of independence. Although these sketches may signify closed rooms at first gaze, but for me these sketches signify that there is no demarcated entry or exit.

"The works are significant of the inner sanctum of meditative emptiness and these architectural compositions have been drawn from my memories of childhood," says Chobisa.
The artist takes at least a week to create each frame, and then works further, first on paper, followed by pasting it on a board while adding layers of colours.
"I keep working one one particular art piece until I am satisfied with it from a holistic point of view," he says.
The series of work has been composed through the act of surrendering and accepting what comes alive on paper while working, says Chobisa.

The exhibition is set to continue till May 30.