Selected quotations from Arunima Choudhury’s notebooks
“Intelligence, imagination and an intense awareness find expression in every people’s manner and customs, language, literature, through their social, utilitarian and artistic creations. We have lost track of, forgotten to remember, our own strengths and resources; we have chosen instead to plunder alien landscapes for instruction on how to teach our children. The seeds of beautiful fruits, countless shells collected from the sands by the sea, cowries, shells of conch, pebbles, sand, so many other natural resources lie within our reach…”
“…And how easily they can help us in planting the first seeds of learning in the minds of children. But we have sold our souls to the supremacy of plastic. Hence, our notions of beauty are now based purely on products, fashioned from synthetic materials…”
“…But the joy of creation – that is the truest play. The highest sport. And that was the game from which I derived my greatest satisfaction – in making something, anything. Even today I am loath to throw away odds and ends, bits and pieces. Why not make something out of them instead?…”
“…Today, so many years later, I am still the same. Still at play. The same pure feeling floods my being every time I complete a painting – finish a drawing.”
“The pleasure of art is linked also to a complex web of its after-effects and to the physical toil involved. From empty space to creation – every painting is a new attempt, a new direction.”
“My life and growth as an artist, like an endless walking, on and on, finding pathways, stumbling upon avenues. Every aspect filled with wonder and awe.”
“And with the same joy I used to experience as a child. At play…”
“…A joy that is edged with pain, sometimes. Sometimes with discovery. But always it sparkles with the light of the new. Of the knowledge of the new.…”
Biographical information
Born in 1950, Arunima Choudhury received her Diploma in Fine Arts from the Indian Art College, Kolkata in 1974.
Currently working as a music, art and craft teacher at Patha Bhavan, Kolkata, Arunima, and her husband Gautam, run a centre for visual and performing arts for children and Bihan Pathshala, a school for pre-primary children in Naihati, 24 Parganas.
She has shown her work at five solo exhibitions and participated in several group shows around the country.
Arunima has also been involved in working on various terracotta murals in Santiniketan and other parts of West Bengal.
She lives and works in Kolkata.
- Solo shows:
- “Khela”, Seagull Art & Media Resource Centre, Kolkata, 2007;
- Birla Academy, Kolkata 2004;
- Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara 2003;
- Artage, Kolkata 1999;
- Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata 1989:
- Academy Of Fine Arts, Kolkata 1985.
- Joint and Group Shows:
- Gandhar Art Gallery, Kolkata, 2007;
- Daira Art Gallery, Hyderabad 2006;
- Versions, organized by ‘Zest’ 2005;
- ‘Indian Contemporary Artists’, Hart Gallery, Beijing, PR China 2004;
- ‘Recent Works’, CIMA, Kolkata 2003;
- ‘Art of Bengal’, CIMA, Kolkata 2001;
- ‘Works on paper’, CIMA, Kolkata 2001;
- Birla Academy, Mumbai 1998 and 1996;
- ‘Seven Women Artists’, Birla Academy, Kolkata 1996;
- Joint Show-Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, 1998 and 1996;
- Gallarie 88, Kolkata, 1996;
- Biennial, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal 1996 and 1994;
- ‘Calcutta 300’ Birla Academy, Kolkata and Delhi 1990;
- National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Academy, Kolkata, 1986.
- And many more. ↩
