Manoj Dutta

My painting is inspired by contemporary reality. It reflects our hopes and aspirations, life and society, our political and religious preoccupations and everything that happens around us.

I try to remain myself in all that I think about, and do, in painting. Having spent the early part of my life in a rural ambience, I now live in a city and do not feel myself an alien here. So my world is not confined to rural Bengal and folk are anymore, it centres round the city. My painting draws its strength from the impacts on my mind of events in the city life. But I still admire the folk artists, the simplicity and spontaneity of folk art. There are, therefore, pronounced elements of folk art in my painting though its content is my experience of the immediate reality around me. Folk form and feel come to my painting as naturally as the tune of folk songs that springs from the depth of the folk-singer’s heart. I try to achieve the same simplicity and directness in my work."

The patterned precision and polished delicacy of Manoj Dutta's infinitely appealing visuals, contradict the fact that he has received no formal training in art. The singular strength with which he has concentrated on his chosen passion is however immediately identifiable in the emotional spontaneity and meticulous craftsmanship of his paintings and drawings.

2010 'Image and Symbol: Painters Perception', Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata

Academy of Fine Arts

Birla Academy

W.B. State Akademi Calcutta

Triveni Kala Sangam

Jahangir Art Gallery - New Delhi

Calcutta 300 years-Exhibition organised by Purnima production

Calcutta Through The Eyes of Painter - Exhibition organised by Birla Academy

Asian Art Show, Japan

Contemporary Art Show South Korea

Contemporary Indian Art Show, Holland

Busan Biennial, Korea

HUDCO Habiart Camp-New Delhi

Artist Camp-Max Muller Bhavan Calcutta