Tridib Dutta

Looking at art can be one of the greatest pleasures that life has to offer. Man discovered this ultimately when he was in need and this is what happened exactly in the life of Tridib Dutta.
His creative soul was very much in need of colours to paint some thing in his early childhood, but this was not possible due to some compelling seasons. Finally he discovered the original colours- black and white, which were the earliest media used by the primitive human race to sketch on cave walls.
Tridib Dutta of Tinsukia picked up as weapon to fulfill his creative urge, a simple ordinary ball pen of black ink. With the satisfaction that it gives him , he continued to draw non stop, for which he had to undergo a lot of hardships, to reach to the goal he had dreamed of.
If we attend to his drawings, we see that they reflect exuberant personality and abundant creative sense. With keen observation and sensitivity he studies his subjects.

Altogether thirty three number of drawings by Tridib Dutta were exhibited in the ‘Earth Song’ at Chandmari from April 22nd to 28th 2001, which inaugurated by eminent artist Sri Girish Bora .
Dutta has divided his art works into two series – Assam in Bohag Bihu ( A series of Ball Pen Picture) . Another series of twenty drawings was titled as Seen Unseen a Visual Poetry of Guwahati .
Assam in Bohag Bihu was totall based on the festive mood of Rongali Bihu particularly in the village .
It seems Dutta struggled a lot to capture the colourful Rongali Bihu festival and its merry making in black and white, for which he visited various spots to frame his imaginations a visual form.
Seen Unseen, a visual poetry of Guwahati is based on busy city life. According to Dutta, through this pictures he wanted to visualize the unseen reality, which is inseparable from real life, like a pice of paper lying on the road or a destitute lady resting on a divider. Through his realistic view point he was trying to represent a visual poetry of not only Guwahati but all city life, through the portrayed only view of Guwahity city.
If we analyze his drawings, we may classify it as representational art works. Dutta’s technical experimentation is highly appreciable . Through representational art, Dutta wanted to catch the eye of the people, though he has decided to experiment in a new dimension in the future.
The Theory of Abstraction some times seems to create confusion, for Nandalal Basu has said “ Lake of Knowledge about art makes people lose mental balance. The atmosphere of tension and conflict in the world is also due to ignorance about the essence and the essentiality of art in life.”
Although every man and woman cannot become an artist, it is necessary that every one in the society should value at least a minimum aesthetic outlook to understand art and its positive fulfillment.
Encouragement and appreciation is the vital support for an artist for his artistic Endeavour.
Let me conclude my writing with this little thought – “ The artist is not a special kind of man, but every man is a special kind of artist in whom survives the art itself.” I wish Tridib Dutta a bright future and hope that he may continue his creative work to hone his talent.

Twenty-seven-year old Tridib Dutta. Titu to his friends, is one of the budding artists in this part of the country who has been struggling to make a break in the real league. A self-taught cartographer, he has to his credit a collection of drawings, his visualition of Rongali Bihu and other aspects of life.
Tridib does not use a paint brush or a pencil to draw. Rather, he draws with ballpens to give a realistic effect to his drawings on a sequence of Assamese Village life, focusing mainly on Rongali Bihu.
The young man from the Sripuria locality of Tinsukia has one regret: his pictorial, “ Assam in Bohag Bihu” was not seen in its published form by his father , Paresh Chandra Duta, because he died before it come out. The book contains 13 plates, all of which have an uncanny, life-like naturalness about them, as Tridib has made good use of shadow effects in all his pieces. And yes, all depict daylight scenes.
A commerce graduate, Tridib wants to join a newspaper as a cartoonist. Meanwhile his cartoons have appeared in half a dozen local Dailies of the state, including the largest-selling Dainik Janambhumi, “ I like to do political cartoons.” He declares cheerfully. With his roots firmly established, Tridib said he would like to go for formal training in art, “ provided someone sponsors me” He has also approached the tourism department and the Railways to do some works for them.
He is frank enough to say, “Apartfrom fulfilling my ambition, I would also be earning some money in case the departments agree to my proposals.” His well-wishers see these as sign of the professional in him.
He adds that artworks depicting local culture are always of tourist interest. This has convinced him to meticulously draw 13 frames, over a period of four months , to bring out “ Assam In Bohag Bihu.”
The book has unleashed the artist in him, and now he wants to go farther, provided art connoisseurs give him the necessary lift.

Born in the enchanting land of Assam,( the eastern most part of the country) which boasts of some of the most beautiful Landscapes of our mother land India. Probably ithese all started when I born, when I took over sense. Probably it was all my beloved father who I inherited it from.

The journey literally began in my childhood, amidst nature, when I roamed about with my grand father all down the roads, lanes, by lanes and all over my house and around. References of those moments used to peep in my childhood drawings. But those nostalgias are still the integrity of my present works also.

Poverty has always been a part and parcel of my life, what I call to be my never ending struggle and source of inspirations. I think it was one of the reasons that I took up BALL PEN as a means of work, a tool to express my artistic urge, my expressions, my thoughts. What can be more cheaper than a Ball pen Refills, with which I could do something different, off the league. Yes, that’s what I could effort at that time. Exactly that’s where and how I started my journey.

I completed my first research work in the year 1993. That time my father was alive. He was my constant source of inspiration for the project. It’s during this time I discovered the extant to which a Ball Pen can go. I started feeling that this can be a medium through which I can make my own footmark. Thus, I started developing my own style. A style which I can possibly be establishing as my Signature Style, down the line.

It was in the year 1995 I compiled The Thirteen Lucky plates of my Ball Pen Works Titled ASSAM IN BOHAG BIHU A series of Ball Pen Picture depicting The happenings of Bohag Bihu in sequence. Although the compilation got collected globally, I believe it is yet to be evaluated. I never claim it to be an extraordinary work but it was definitely be a collectable material and a testimony of Assamese culture and Life. The entire series was exhibited in several places in the State, namely in the Historical Tinsukia Book Fair 1996, in Tejpur , Earth Song Guwahati etc.

Next came yet another collection Title SEEN UNSEEN A VISUAL POETRY OF GUWAHATI this is also a Collection of Ball Pen Works. In this collection I made an effort to capture the moments, the colours and the texture of a City Life. (here it’s Guwahati). Which was exhibited in Earth Song in the year 2001.

Both the above mentioned Series have been an experimentation of a new form and style , which taught me a great deal. Here I should mention that whatever I have been learning, I have been learning by my self. I have not been able to afford a fine art schooling , whatsoever.

Since 2003 I have been trying to explore the medium of OIL ON CANVAS and started giving full time as a Proffessional. And therefore, this is my Identity now and the prime sourse of bread. For which I got tremendous appreciations locally. A good number of my works got collected by the local people also. I shall always be indebted to them for such a nice support .

The latest work of mine is the NOSTALGIA series which was exhibited in the Golden Jubilee celebration of Tinsukia College ( of which I am a ) from 22nd to 25th November 2006, as a prime attraction.

As I am a great dreamer, I always aspire to be a successful Painter and therefore struggling hard to get acclaimed Nationally and Internationally. I am a open hearted and open minded person otherwise, who is always ready to learn from constructive criticism . Given a chance always ready to learn.