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‘Dolls for adults’ come alive

— Photo: Ashoke Chakrabarty

Back to innocence: An exhibition of paintings by Suresh Balabantaray in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

BHUBANESWAR: If you always believed that dolls are for kids only, you are welcome to an exclusive exhibition of paintings based on dolls and aptly titled "Dolls for adults" that has been hosted here by the Orissa Modern Art Gallery.

Here you would discover how a 53-year-old man has been obsessed by the dolls for over two decades and how the lifeless objects have come alive on his canvas.

A self-taught artist, writer, columnist and theatre activist, Suresh Balabantaray is an officer with the Central Excise and Customs who has a unique collection of about 5000 dolls that he has collected from various corners of the country and from abroad. "Mine was a job of all India nature and it took me to different places.

“Dolls always fascinated me and that prompted me to pursue this hobby two decades ago," revealed the avid collector and art activist who has been building up "Kandhei Ghar" (a museum of miniature dolls) in this city of temples that is set to attract tourists soon.

Literally living with the dolls for over 20 years, the lifeless artefacts have become a part of Mr.Balabantaray’s life.

"My day starts with a look at them and ends the same way. So, when I thought of trying my hand at painting, they were there on my canvas spontaneously," said the man who was once upon a time a quiz master for the prestigious Illustrated Weekly of India.

"I am not an artist at all," says the painter with humility. But a look at the 51 frames that he has exhibited at the gallery speaks volumes for his creativity.

"The way he has experimented with the theme, colour and texture of his paintings in acrylic on canvas with painted wood pasted on some pieces, none would believe that he has no formal training in art," observed gallery director and graphic artist Mr.Tarakant Parida.

His dolls have become the central characters in all his paintings and each piece of his paintings carry an aesthetic appeal, pointed out art critic Kedar Mishra.

"I believe dolls can take a man back in time to experience the joy, simplicity and innocence of one’s lost childhood.

That is the reason why I have named it dolls for adults," explained Mr.Balabantray who has also painted another series on the 64-Yogini temple of Bhubaneswar that will be mounted as an exclusive exhibition in New Delhi soon.

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