Amit Das is a rare artist who forayed into the creative field of fashion but found his calling in visual arts. Currently holding his exhibition of drawings ‘Ekkum’ at Icon Art Gallery, the Delhi-based artist worked as a fashion designer for 15 years. “I was into Pret and Haute Couture and western couture mostly gowns,” he shares. Art was a constant companion and a pen helped him to express what he couldn’t through words. Regular visits to galleries, interacting with artists encouraged him to make paper his canvas. “Pen always fascinates me and there is no reason why I love that,” he states and equates it to an arrow. “I felt like archer Arjuna from Mahabharatha who aims at a bird’s eye with his bow and arrow.”
Ekkum meaning ‘the first’ has ink drawings including a series on his muse — the tree. The lines twist, turn and intertwine creating a path of its own. Though he never plans the direction of his strokes, he enjoys the energy in their movement. Some drawings create a sense of stillness while others invite the viewer to look deep into its complexities. “I never plan or think how I should draw. Apne aap raasta milta gaya . I was glad that the lines moved; The way a river flows and finds its way, these lines too choose their own path.”
Needle art
The display also has a few of his works done with needle. Look closer and the design shimmers in the light. He explains this work was the result of his confusion and depression. “We all go through that phase when we are not sure of what we want to do in life. I was confused whether to continue in fashion or move to art. In that state of mind, I started pricking a paper with needle. I was not even sure what to call the art,” he shares.
Done with precision, the needle art work is a sheer beauty to look at. It looks simple with just needle pricks on paper but the process is challenging as it has to be done in a pattern applying pressure. A couple of times the paper tore and he pricked his fingers quite often too.
On a lighter note, he recalls an incident where visitors at an exhibition didn’t see the needle art on his works and remarked he has just left a white paper! “I told them the artiste has tried to create something different. When they realised I was the artist, they apologised. Sometimes my work also doesn’t get selected because they think I have sent just a white paper.”
He hopes to continue this journey and experiment more with pen. “ When friends from fashion industry see my works, they say I was meant for this.”
EKKUM
Contemporary Art by Amit Das
Iconart Gallery, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills
11 30 am to 7 pm
