Dinda keeps Indian flag flying in body-art fest

KOLKATA: Artist Sanatan Dinda, whose creations at Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata have captivated millions for over a decade, wowed judges at the World Bodypainting Festival 2015 in Pörtschach, Austria. At the finals held on Sunday, Dinda's body art on Austrian model Nicole Rider bagged the second prize at the prestigious championship.
Thrilled over the success in a medium that is radically different from the traditional clay and canvas that he grew up on, Dinda said it would drive him to explore other new art forms.Dinda was the only Indian representative in the festival at Pörtschach, a four-and-a-half hour’s drive from Vienna, that drew hundreds of participants from more than 50 countries.
"Right now, I feel on top of the world! It was an unbelievable run, qualifying in a strong position and then finishing more strong. Though there is a hint of regret at not being able to complete a portion of the model's legs in time that cost me the first position (Dinda lost by a point), there is no denying that it has been a dream run this year. I will continue to pursue body art and explore other alternative art forms even as I continue to paint and sculpt," Dinda told TOI while travelling from Vienna to Paris on EuroRail. At the French capital, Dinda will join other atists at an exhibition where eight of his charcoal drawings will be on display.
In the first round on Friday, the theme was 'Games People Play'. Dinda used the jigsaw puzzle and various board games like Ludo and Chess to present the ultimate creation: God making Adam. Though the competition was strong, Dinda sailed into the finals in second position. On Sunday, the theme was surrealism and the artist from Kolkata distorted the models body through sheer imagination and deft art to reveal a terror-stricken boy peeping out of the womb.
"The hardship that a woman from a Third World country endures in her daily life wrecks her body. The boy represents the future generation, looking at the harsh world with apprehension. At the rear, I painted a portrait of Salvador Dali, the ultimate master of surrealism. He, too, had an expression of anxiety," Dinda explained.
His imagination and execution floored judges Freddie and Craig Tracy who bowed before the artist in appreciation. Dinda, who spent nearly Rs 15 lakh to participate in the competition, has now been flooded with sponsorship offers. He has also received offers to stay at Lake Wörthersee in Austria and practice bodypainting, something he is unable to do in India due to lack of models as well as specialized paint.
"In India, art students paint nude models but never get to paint on a nude model. And it's very tough. Artists usually bring a blank 2D canvas to life. But here, one has to work on a 3D canvas that isn't stiff but dynamic with varied textures in different regions. I struggled the first two years before ultimately tasting success," he said.
But doesn't he regret putting in hours of hard work to create an art that gets washed away in seconds? "Not at all! I have no issues with working on a Durga idol for a month or even more only to see it immersed in the river. Once the paint is washed away, one regains a blank canvas to again create something new," Dinda added.