Journey
My journey started from my childhood. I was inspired from some art pieces created by my late grandfather, Sri. Srinantiram Karmakar. During my childhood, along with my studies I was interested into art, at a very young age I got a great opportunity to learn stone craving art from Sri Sahadev Karmakar, an artist from Susunia.
Growing Art
Slowly my journey as an artist started. In a very short period of time I got introduced to few government institutions such as DIC and Bardhhaman regional centre, where I got opportunities for many exhibitions and contests. In this way slowly my work was getting renounced in the outer world, along with that I received my first state level award on 1979, after that I got awards many times through many mediums.
Achievements
In 1995, I received rastrapati award ‘Virat Swarup’ for carving art by the honourable president Mr. Sankar Dayal. In the same year I got invitation to meet the prime minister P.V Narasima Rao. In the year 1996 at Surajkund exhibition I was given the title of ‘kolmoni’ from the Governor.
Expanding
In the recent time in 2019 I received ‘excellence’ award from the hands of Smt. Smriti Zuban Irani, an artist in MSME. Recently a lot of families from my village and the other villages have been inspired by the art and joined the work. The family members of mine have also joined the work, my wife helps me a lot. My son and daughter are also connected to this art, in 2008-09 my son, Malay karmakar won state level award.
Founded
1979
Member
12
City
Bankura, WB
First Award
26 December 1995
Art Type
Sclapture, Handcraft
Life of Journey
Introduction
I was first honored at the state level in 1979 with the 'First Prize'. But I have to struggle for this success for almost 17 years. I was born in a joint low-income family in 1961. My family dhad a cultural environment and access to to literature, sculpture and music, my grandfather's drwaing and making clay statues moved me deeply to the art. thats why From a very young age i have start my journey by practiced art with my grandfather, Besides my study, all of the neibourhood including my family were impressed to see my art in making The idol of clay They have encouraged me to to grow , specially my grandfather and father never oppose my to do that even they give my more encourage to the art.
Hard working
In my age of nine and ten, i have made varoius idols of clay in many fastivels and puja Parvan in our village and neibour villages, after working 1 - 2 years like this , i have found a art of Stone sculpture in Susunia, i have go more interest on it and gone out of my house to learn the art of stone sclapture, i have got the opportunity to learn stone sclapture from artist Sahadev Karmakar, i have learned the art of sone scapture by my hard working and diligence of few years and presense of my teacher sahadev karmar eagerly help me to explore my self. As susnia stone is not perfect for fine work, i have got more interest in wood sclapture than stone sclapture. Woodwork culture of bankure impressed me so much so that i have attracted to bankura and come to bankura town to stay.
Realization
After living in town , I have got the presence of many special artists and wisemen in very few days. As a result I have got opportunity to travel kolkata city within few days. I have communicate with the government office named "Design Central" where I have got the presence of many great artists, Intellectuals, high graded officers. This opportunity have help me to explore my art at high level, My art works achieved many state level prizes, But I realize that Great artist stand by creating their own styles of art - not imulating, just observing others art and implementing in own style is the best way to explore original talen of a genuine artist. thats why I have come back to my village from town for rural development of the art.
Life After Return to Villages
Making Self-reliant
Recently in my village, 30-40 families are taking this art as profession and almost 300-400 peoples are passively and actively depended on this profession which is the best achievement of mine.i had to struggled with my best and give my most valuable time to explore this art in my village and sorrunding villages
Advance Thinking
Very first time most of the people was not interestest in this art work and not only they dislike this art as profession, event they try to avoid this art. because the idols had the hieght of almost 3-4 feet and they was making from large 3D type which are very hard to carve and fine. within very few days i have understand that i have to find out a easy method instead of 3D type. Within Few days i had inovated a method of making sclapture by making Tencil in .5 inchs thin wood. Families surrounding our villeges were getting interest in Scpalture Art for its easy method and thin wood.
Explore Art
After that marketing issues raised for this products, Thats why we were starting to exhibit and those products in various Art-fairs. those products were starting to get attraction from people as thoses were new home decors having special art in that time. Market of those products were starting to get high demand as a result many outsiders were starting to coming in my village.People were taking this art as profession as a result people were starting to earn more.Gradually women were also joining in this profession,My village becomes a great place for sclapture art for almost 40 years and become famous in outsides area and countries.This art give me the life-time achievement.