The Hindu : National : A politician and a painter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004

National

National

A politician and a painter

By Malabika Bhattacharya

KOLKATA, DEC. 20. The Trinamool Congress leader, Mamata Banerjee, is looking forward to December 23. That day her week-long painting exhibition will be unveiled. A `mini-art auction' is lined up with at least three of her creations. ``Which three, she herself will decide,'' the sponsors said.

Playing the role of `auctioneers for a cause' will be a physically challenged young woman who is a talented artist; the Mayor of Kolkata, Subrata Mukherjee, and the quizmaster Derek O'Brien.

Titled `25 Hours in a Day,' the exhibition, to be held at Swabhumi, appears to have generated some curiosity in the city's art circle as Ms. Banerjee would be the "first politician in Kolkata whose creations on canvas would be on display.'' Eminent artists have been invited for the inauguration.``I have always enjoyed doing this in the little spare time one gets, but have no formal training. A few months ago some well-wishers suggested to me that it might be a good idea to put together the output in an exhibition. That was how `25 Hours in a Day' was born,'' said Ms. Banerjee.

``Just a vagabond dabbling with colours,'' is how she would like to describe her interest in painting. Yet Ms. Banerjee has produced over 300 sketches, drawings and paintings over the past few years.

Many who have known her for years say that her creative trait ``came into full bloom'' in the past two years, ever since she faced electoral defeat in the Assembly election. She has during this period concentrated more on writing memoirs, penning poetry and painting pictures.

The paintings are priced low, from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1000. Part of the proceeds from the auction will go to charitable organisations.

The peacock is one of the favourite themes: about 30 of the 300 works feature the national bird. Other favourites are gods and goddesses, village life and abstract expressions.

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