Emerging Artist award for Siliguri artist Biplab Sarkar

Siliguri-based miniature artist Biplab Sarkar has been chosen as the Glenfiddichs Emerging Artist of the Year 2018.

The seventh recipient of the honour, Sarkar will represent India at the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence (AiR) programme where he will spend three months at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland with artists from around the world.

It is Sarkar's miniaturistic narrative body of work exploring the relationship of body and object in an urban context that made him stand out.

His art largely deals with the lifestyle and struggles of hawkers working at heritage sites, tourist places, local market or the independent wanderers.

The simplistic forms painted with subtle tones of water colors with some line drawings are evolved from the photographic reference.

"I am extremely honored and excited to have been selected for the 2018 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence programme. I look forward to exploring new ideas while on residence at Glenfiddich distillery and working with artists from different cultures and practices," the artist said.

The artist will be also awarded Rs 10 lakh, which includes an international allowance of Rs 1,20,000 per month and a work allowance of Rs 500,000, besides being given a solo show at Bestcollegeart.com Gallery here.

The 17-year-old AiR programme brings winners from different countries together to spend three months at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland, and take inspiration from their surroundings to produce new work.

"We are delighted to invite (winner) to be the 7th Indian artist to join the Glenfiddich residency programme.

"Our globally recognized forum Artists in Residence (AiR), launched in 2002, provides a unique and inspired platform for artists from around the world to showcase their talent and to gain international recognition. Through this programme, we are trying to recognize and encourage the emerging talent of India," Andy Fairgrieve, global coordinator and organizer of the programme, said.

The award was judged by a 12-member jury including leading artists, gallery owners, art critics and art collectors like Swapan Seth, Sunil Sethi, Veer Munshi, Jagannath Panda, Nitin Bhayana, Sunil V, Bhavna Kakar, among others.