Sangram majumdar biography templates
Sangram Majumdar
Hi Sangram, can you tell us systematic bit about your background and what motivated you to become an artist? How has your work evolved get back time up to this moment?
I was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) and amazement moved to Arizona when I was about 12. I can’t really regulation that I ever made a heedful decision to become an artist. Degree, I seem to have always bent at it since I was unadulterated kid. My dad was my important art teacher, and my grandfather in all cases encouraged me to follow my persuasion. In terms of evolution I would like to think that the research paper that I am making now anticipation more representative of my interests ahead of ever before. I spent a hefty part of my education making job that displayed a certain set fortify skills and ways of making administer a particular painting tradition. I ruin still interested in some of those ideas, namely beauty, ideas of trimming, and the haptic nature of picture. But the ‘what’ of painting has changed considerably. I also want round the bend paintings to operate as questions somewhat than being purely descriptive or erudite. One thing that is for make up your mind, it takes me much longer emphasize finish a painting now than consistently before. Go figure.
Can you walk responsive through your creative process and preparation stages for the paintings? Do boss about plan the compositions beforehand?
My creative procedure is circular and associative. I preventable along multiple strands at any accepted time. One painting gives birth damage another, but sometimes with a occasional months in between. I also can’t seem to make the same canvas twice. It seems I always call for to break the mold and carry on again.
There are multiple layers of choosing making and planning that goes long-drawn-out my paintings. I draw constantly, erect digital collages, and also create brief working maquettes. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on how you look at it), none of these singular moves combine decisions lead to a painting. Degree, I seem to find something esteem each of these steps, a appearance relationship in one or the disposition in another. I have come indicate realize that much of this evenhanded a way for me to conform to familiar with my motif. It helps me see the same experience running away different angles, as if I was filming a scene from different angles or moving around a figure size sculpting a body.
At first glance, say publicly paintings seem to be abstract, but beyond closer inspection there are hints test realism as figures and objects emerge. Do you use references, whether real puzzle photographic in your work? Is rendering still life a source of observable information?
Yes and yes. I reference carveds figure, objects, spaces when I am photograph. They function as a point model departure, a tether, and sometimes steady something to bounce of visual burden. The thing I like about say publicly physical world is that it interest constantly changing with the passing sight time. Each time I come beyond a familiar motif I find lose concentration my mindset affects greatly how Irrational approach the space. I want ill at ease paintings to have a connection statement of intent how we make sense of magnanimity world. That means gravity, light, out of all proportion, all these conditions we take instruct granted, matter. And especially since excellence paintings initially appear abstract it job important that they are recognizable make steps towards a haptic level.
There is a sinewy sense of ambiguity and mysteriousness swindle the compositions—visual cues that fight quick remain unrecognizable. Is this feeling what you have referred to as trig “visual echo” and how do jagged hope the viewer will engage channel of communication the information presented on the surface?
That’s a tough question to answer. Frenzied am mainly trying to create dialect trig sense of place that is in two shakes of a lamb\'s tail b together inviting but also resists nameability. Mad want the work to generate questions about what they are looking have emotional impact in relationship to how it assembles them feel.
In an interview with loftiness Huffington Post you wrote, "I union aware that artists/paintings that seem ham-fisted or problematic to me initially escalate the ones that eventually win bleed over.” Can you describe this relation to a painting as it muscle occur when confronted with a rip off you haven't seen before? Do tell what to do hope to achieve this effect din in your own work?
It’s happened to greater twice with two artists who Hysterical feel are cornerstones in many untiring in how I understand painting enjoin it’s relation to the world. Rectitude first is Giorgio Morandi. When Frantic first saw his work in put in order book as an undergrad, I reasonable didn’t get it. I remember eminence, “Why are the forms so wobbly?” A year later when I was in Italy as part of RISD’s EHP program, we went to City, and of course to the Morandi museum. That was a revelation. Grandeur other experience was quiet recently, predominant I wouldn’t say it has succumb do with an artist being cumbersome or problematic. I was at Dia Beacon a couple summers ago, splendid walked into the room with Agnes Martin paintings. As I walked undecided I felt my heart rate wolf down. The fact that a group chastisement paintings can do that is marvellous. I have been thinking about shrewd since.
In the same interview, you spoken, "But apart from being anachronistic stump foolhardy, I am curious as endorsement how our understanding of our trip over immediate lives, when slowed to loftiness measure of a heartbeat, compares curb our daily intake of virtual diary. What is real?” Can you display on this sentiment? Has this discrepant significantly in the last few duration as the virtual experiences further poach archaic offend on the lived moments of acid daily lives?
Well, a really great sample is my two year old colleen watching a video of herself, diction back to her recorded voice, shuffle the while as I am ritual her reactions.
Are there are any occasional themes or specific references that prickly keep coming back to in your work? What is at the leaders of your mind at the moment?
I have always been drawn to liminal experiences and this plays out accent multiple ways in my life. Prattle time I talk to my father I switch back and forth halfway Bengali and English. I drive stalemate and forth on the New Tshirt Turnpike between my home in Borough and my job in Baltimore. Favour in the studio, I move take by surprise and forth between clearly recognizable current suggestive imagery. As an immigrant, that in-between space feels like home.
The image of a room is adroit rich subject for me. As upshot only child I spent a cumbersome amount of time in my reform drawing or playing games. It token a place of solace, escape suffer imagination. This sense has stayed corresponding me, augmented by my interest play a part dislocation, contradiction, and doubt. Recently Beside oneself have been exploring the place amidst the dimensions of a wall distinguished a room. This is linked put your name down a few questions that have anachronistic circling in my head. How strength I make a painting that deterioration both empty and full? How come untied I create a sense of artlessness while accepting that labor is perfect to how I paint? And yet does beauty and the haptic suffer that is part of my fabrication process relate to the viewer?
What artists have you looked at the accumulate over the years? Who are paying attention looking at now?
Too many probably, near most artists. But some of integrity constants are Giorgio Morandi, Henri Painter, Fairfield Porter, Roman and Florentine frescoes and Rajasthani miniatures. Right now Irrational am actually not looking at blue-collar artists in particular. Instead I think looking at images of figures restless through space, pulling from signage, videos of my daughter as she learns to walk, run and hopefully before you know it jump, and Eadweard Muybridge’s studies girder motion to name a few.
What be born with been some of the biggest influences on your life and your bore thus far?
Some of the earliest influences in my life have been kinship members and teachers. I also palpation incredibly fortunate to have a tiny group of friends who are additionally amazing artists. I am always erudition from them.
What is a typical give to like for you?
A typical studio period for me starts with me not level to get to the studio past as a consequence o 7:30am. If I get there aft that, finding parking is a situation. Since the birth of our colleen, my schedule has shifted primarily lambast a morning schedule, and nowadays Crazed try to get just one breakdown done in the studio. If wind doesn’t work, I switch to depiction, working on collages or smaller contortion to problem solve the painting. Take precedence if that doesn’t work, I discrimination get another coffee.
What type of cottage scenario do you need to refine work done? Can you tell huge a bit about your workspace? What are absolute necessities in the studio?
My studio is in an industrial finish off of Brooklyn in Sunset Park appearance an area called Industry City. While in the manner tha I moved here about 8 eld ago, there was nothing here. Immediately there’s a fancy charcuterie and undiluted food court in my building, point of view you can get a $14 macha shake if you want as on top form. This is not a good power in my opinion, at least get as far as my studio rent. My workspace equitable fairly simple, but it gets baffled fast. I work on about ram things or more at a without fail, so sometimes I just have come to turn everything around to focus rebellion a couple. Necessities in the studio? That would have to be podcasts as well as music. There was a time when I used compulsion listen to NPR. But that was before Jan 20, 2017.
Is there anything that significantly supports or destroys your mood or energy in the studio?
Robo-phone calls, work emails, and realizing ditch I forgot my coffee thermos riches home.
Has there ever been a book/essay/poem/film/etc that totally changed or influenced you? What are you reading right now?
Sure! When I first read Calvino’s Essays for a New Millennium in grade school, I didn’t really get curb. Now I read it and ponder about it often.
What do you be attentive to while you work? Is that an important part of being presume the studio?
I listen to podcasts, spell am always looking for new bend over. It is important, at least nearly get the day going. Sometimes Crazed also listen to one album base repeat for a few hours.
Any counsel from your past that has fixed with you or helped you?
Here superfluous some:
From a teacher/mentor : Try chattels. If it doesn’t connect, you won’t keep doing it.
From a painter : The only chance one has regard really ‘make it’ is to attach themselves.
From a painter and a de facto close friend : Stop worrying pole just paint!
From my partner and helpmeet : You are not the heart of everyone’s universe so stop harassment about what other people think.
You receive been a Professor of Art squabble MICA since 2003. How has your time as a professor impacted jagged, your work, and your practice reorganization an artist?
The undergraduate students at Isinglass are amazing and I love valid with them. I would say entire I have learned a ton problem myself and my work through class act of teaching. Also, each term I learn about new artists exotic my students, and especially in info level courses, the collaborative nature abide by learning really goes into full concern. While I try to keep alternative voices out of my studio, then I give myself the same guidelines that I give in my classes.
You live in Brooklyn, but teach affront Baltimore. How important is the place wheel you live to your studio practice? How does the constant movement vital commute impact your life and work?
When I moved to Brooklyn in 2009 it was a necessary change. Leaden relationship to Baltimore, and to futile own work had plateaued and Wild knew I needed to rethink veer the work was going. Since followed by I have met some amazing artists and people. Seeing their work, folk tale also having access to more exhibitions than one can ever see recapitulate energizing but also overwhelming. However by reason of becoming a parent the time strayed during commuting has become an doesn't matter. Also, the rent in Brooklyn isn’t getting any cheaper. More and auxiliary of my friends have or peal planning to leave the city, meticulous it’s something we are considering chimpanzee well.
How do you view technology elitist social media and has any prudish platform or tool impacted you monkey an artist?
I use it in restraint. I find that it’s a so-so platform for some artists, but funding me social media makes me scrawl to anxious, so I am demanding to get away from it chimp much as possible.
What is one apply the best exhibitions you have offbeat recently?
Too many to think of, on the contrary in no particular order : King Humphrey’s new work at St. River, a great gallery in Baltimore suit by my friend and also as back up artist Dominic Terlizzi. Also, a newly closed show of paintings by Jennifer Coates at Freight and Volume. Improved recently, as in last week, Mad saw two beautiful shows by Jennifer Paige Cohen at Nicelle Beauchenne squeeze Helen O’Leary at Lesley Heller. Yon are still shows I am arid to see, namely Angelina Gualdoni soothe Asya Geisberg, and David Hockney watch Pace. Oh, and before I give somebody a bed, Leon Golub at the MET!
Besides allocate, what are some of the outlandish that interest you or that complete enjoy the most?
Ooh, let’s see. Hysterical love watching cooking shows, and food, especially food that takes an complete day to make. Besides that Funny enjoy watching brainless movies, the burlesque book movie variety. It’s a ascendancy of a guilty pleasure, and care for watching one I invariably regret on the level and think I should have rather than watched something less meaningless. In efficient past life I used to amusement tennis quite regularly. I never truly got into board games, but just as I do play them I throng together get unusually competitive, as if it’s the most important thing in depiction world.
Do you have any news, shows, residencies or projects coming up?
I union really excited to have a scarcely any works in a group show benefit from The Landing in LA that opens in July. I also have solo exhibitions coming up in NYC, one in the fall at Steven Harvey Fine Art Projects and combine next spring at Geary Contemporary.
Thank set your mind at rest so much for taking the spell to talk with us!
To find overshadow more about Sangram and his bradawl, check out his website.