The artist at work

Guwahati, Nov. 26: Like most artists, he wants his work to reflect the times in which we live. And true to his objective, he tells it as it is.

Debananda Ulup, the lone professional artist from the barely one lakh-strong Singpho tribe, depicts through his paintings mainly the struggle of his community to extricate itself from the vicious cycle of violence. Aptly titled Chakravyehu, his latest series is also a stark portrayal of the turbulence in society.

?I am basically trying to highlight the contemporary scene, based on media reports and their impact on my psyche,? the artist says.

Ulup?s community inhabits Changlang and Lohit districts of Arunachal Pradesh and pockets of Tinsukia district of Upper Assam.

Once a haven of peace, Changlang and Tirap are today hotbeds of Naga insurgency.

Ulup?s pain at seeing his tribesmen being caught in the whirlpool is the main feature of his paintings. He works with watercolours and the dominant hues are dark blue, red and yellow.

?I aim to complete a series of 30 paintings and then hold an exhibition,? he says.

Hailing from Margherita, Ulup did a primary course in painting at the Guwahati Artists? Guild before forming a style of his own. ?Most of my paintings have tribal motifs in them. I also use Buddhist structures. I once made the Sarnath gate with tribal motifs.?

The series titled Gulp is largely autobiographical. ?The paintings depict my birthplace, my property and my rights over it. I have tried to show how my right over my property has been snatched and I have nothing left now,? he says.

One of the paintings in the series has a frightening demon with its mouth wide open and trying to swallow the sun. Another depicts a cave-like ambience. ?The dark cave seems to highlight our future,? says Ulup.

The artist, however, makes it clear that he is not advocating anything. ?I am only trying to paint the picture as it exists.?

On the art scene in this part of the country, Ulup says the fraternity of artists deserves more exposure. ?Any exhibition is a big platform for budding artists. Art critics and veteran artists, too, get to know new concepts and ideas churned out by young minds.?

Idealistic as he is, Ulup believes art can act as a healing agent and provide succour to troubled minds.

Imphal blast: A villager was killed in a bomb blast in Churachandpur district of Manipur but the cause of the explosion was not yet known, official sources said today, reports PTI. Senior police officials have rushed to the scene, about 80 km south Imphal.