Nalhati boy Narayan Sinha is ready throw open his home to the art lovers of Calcutta. Overlooking a waterbody and engulfed in greenery, this creative den in Howrah is signature Narayan, right from the entrance that’s made of sleeper wood with elements like gas burner, roti-maker handle and rickshaw parts. Various artworks dot the 10,000sq ft space…. t2 walked around Shishir Kunja in Dumurjala on Sunday afternoon as it geared up for the Poila Baisakh opening to be hosted by Madhu Neotia.
NARAYAN’S CREATIVE DEN: A T2 FIRST LOOK
What’s the idea behind opening up your house to people?
I want to see a beautiful Calcutta and I want to start from my house. You come to my house, see me at work and even if I am not there, you have a look around. You don’t always have to buy art. That association with art is very important. Sharing things can change your life. An ambience can rejuvenate you.
I did a show in Gujarat where I had displayed a sculpture in which a woman peeked out to see whether her fiancee was on the way and she had a crow as a pet. The lady who bought that metal sculpture came back to meet me and said she didn’t feel lonely anymore. We tend to intellectualise art, but somewhere if a piece of art can be my friend, why not? For me, connecting is very important.... Howrah Bridge is also a piece of sculpture. Calcutta is changing. Yes, change is important, but this city is losing its character. I want to deck up Calcutta.
An artist’s workshop is a very private space. Are you comfortable with people pottering about?
My purpose is to reach out to as many people as I can with my art. Nowadays, I am mostly showing abroad, and in Delhi and Mumbai. I feel a vacuum if I am not showing in Calcutta. I don’t want that. I don’t want people to just walk in, but art lovers can always call and come. I am developing that set-up. It is not a museum.
Also, for me, this por-aapon thing is problematic. I have grown up in a household where lots of people would have lunch and dinner with us on a regular basis. That’s in my system. I used to feel diluted when I came to Calcutta where people really think a lot before speaking their hearts out. Also, somewhere I have this artist’s arrogance. Constructive criticism is always welcome. I am 37 now. I have realised life is very short. So, why cannot every day be a celebration? I can cook, get some wine, switch on some music and just chat (smiles). I wanted to be an open notebook where people can come and see what books I read, what music I listen to….
How have you moulded this space?
There was greenery here, but I have incorporated a lot more. The whole house has been given a contemporary feel. The grey cement adds a European flavour. For an artist, the ambience is important. Even my Nalhati house is open to all during daytime. It used to be a factory. I never had a library during my childhood, but in my Nalhati house, I have built a library. There is also a lot of greenery…. I have realised my dream. Previously, it used to be difficult for people to perceive me as an artist. That house changed it.
This space has been ready for the past one year. What took you so long to unveil it?
This was ready by May 2014, but I felt I was not justifying it. I am going to show new as well as old works to showcase my journey as an artist. A portion of the front lawn will showcase some of my previous works. There will be a tribute to the Nalhati station that helps me connect with myself. There will be a jewellery room on the lawns. A jewellery box-like room in red will house the Debi (Durga) installation. On other days, my works will be on display. We will sell from here too.
