Which sector of society do you want to focus on with your work?Rajib Kumar Roy artist
Rajib Kumar Roy is an emerging young artist. He recently received an honorable mention for his installation work in the 17th Asian Art Biennale, held in Dhaka last month. His passion for painting started in his childhood. As a young painter, he dreams of doing good for society through his talent. YI talked to him about his work and future plans.
Bipul K Debnath
How did you get involved in art? What inspired you?
It is really tough to answer in a single word. My interest towards painting started to grow from the very beginning of my childhood. At the time, I used to observe paintings by an artist, who was my uncle by relation. Actually, I got inspiration from him.
What is art to you? Do you think art plays an important role in society?
Actually, art is something which an artist does for the wellbeing of the society, out of social responsibility. And of course, it works as an effective media to create awareness and express ones thoughts.
Which sector of society do you want to focus on with your work?
Well, its not possible for any individual artist to focus on a specific sector of society because we closely observe every matter or incident, which is overlooked by the common people. There are some incidents that remain unseen. What I want to do is to expose those so that people become conscious of the facts.
How important is institutional training for an artist?
Institutional training is needed for the sake of making one more skilled. But when an artist becomes more of an individual and matured, formal training rarely plays any important role. Mainly, one needs institutional training to become skilled or accustomed in this field. But more often, when an artist reaches a state of high excellence, it does not bring any fruitful outcome.
Tell us about your biggest achievements.
This award for my installation work is my first, although I have been connected with Shilpakala for many years and participated in so many exhibitions.
What is your feeling after receiving award?
Needless to say, its a great feeling, and also very emotional to get a place among nine awardees in such an international exhibition. I want to take this as a starting point. And of course, it will inspire me as I still have to go a long way in life.
What did you depict in your art installation?
My art installation Globalisation of Politics - Politics of Globalisation depicts the function of globalisation. It is not a theory, but politics which is meticulously planned by imperialistic forces and whose ultimate goal is to dominate the planet more effectively. Thus, politics and globalisation have become some sort of allies.
Do you wish to be known globally?
Everybody wants to be world famous, but the reality may not always be so. There is a great gap between want and qualification. An equal blend of qualification, opportunity and patronisation is required for this.
What types of patronisation do you want?
A money-making art culture has not been established in Bangladesh yet. In this regard, patronisation is highly needed. However, some are coming forward with finance in this field now. But that is very little and it is limited among noted artists. But those who are young and little-known are not benefitted.
What is your future plan?
Its quite difficult to survive by means of drawing pictures alone. In the socio-conomic perspective of our country, the painting profession is not suitable to meet ones needs until one becomes famous first. So, its really troublesome for an artist to take up art as a profession. My future plan is simple. I shall continue my struggle. After all, time will show me what I should do at any particular period.
