Anirban Sheth

      The beginning of 20^th century saw a trend to revive the crafts in Bengal. One of the arts revived in the period was the leather art work, in the areas near Shantiniketan. Rabindranath Tagore and his wife his wife Protima Devi, along with artists like Nandlal Bose, and craftsmen inspired the youth to practice this craft and be innovative in it. The leather craft of this area has embossed patterns and batik work is done on the leather. These leather craft uses embossed batik painting along with traditional patterns.  The handcrafted leather of this region which is available in different colours, patterns and with traditional motifs, is famous. This is a distinct trait of this leather craft which is world famous today for their artistry as Shantinikentan leather craft.  This craft inspired Anirban Sheth, an Calcutta based artist who grew up watching batik images crafted on leather by artisans at Sriniketan, an extension of Santiniketan.

Anirban started painting when he was 16 years old. He is a first class graduate & master degree holder from Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta University. He took the craft of Shantiniketan leather art to a different level, where the craft has turned to art pieces. According to Ratnottama Sengupta, ARTS EDITOR, THE TIMES OF INDIA,  “Albrecht Durer is known to have executed some memorable images on vellum. African and Australian Aboriginal artists continue to use it as a mode of their creative expression. Indonesia, and Malayasia, used it to create aesthetic figuration.” Leather puppets were used in south Indian states for the performance of Tholpavakoothu, Bommalata etc. Anirban has done Twenty solo exhibitions along with various invited group shows in different galleries all over India & abroad. He has received twenty one special awards including –“ AMERICAN ART Award 2018” [6th Rank], West Bengal State Award for painting from Prafulla Dahanukar Art  in 2018,   Mridula Lunker Award-2014 by  “ICAC Gallery” [International Contemporary Art Centre, Mumbai] in 2014,  Oriental Art Society Award in 2003,  Prestigious Camlin Art Foundation, East Zone Award, (Professional Category) Kolkata, with award money in 2001 etc. His collections are in places like- Jehanjir Art Gallery [Mumbai], Birla Academy (Kolkata),Lee-Alison Sibley[U.S. Consul general ],Mani Ratnam [Eminent  Film Director], Art World(Chennai),Aurodhan Art Gallery(Pondichery), Tata Steel, Emami Limited,  Marble Palace (Kolkata),  British Deputy High Commission & Many Private, Corporate & Institutional collections, Like – India & Abroad  [ like- USA, UK, CANADA, PARIS, GERMANY, RUSSIA, HONGKONG, SPAIN, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, BANGLADESH, JAKARTA etc]. His exhibits have been highly appreciated among the art critics and media and also from “GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS”, London. U.K. [ Membership Number:24492, Claim ID: 32422].

 

Why did he choose this medium?

Anirban was attracted to Shantinikentan leather craft. He was fascinated by the special effect that one is able to create on leather but cannot create on paper or canvas His unique way of painting on the leather comes from much research. The leather is the support of the painting. It also forms a inherent texture which is heightened by special techniques such as batique painting, embossing etc. He heightens every accidental effect through the use of leather paint on creased or crumpled goat or sheep leather. He uses the leather of smaller animals which is vegetable tanned or chrome tanned and is unfinished. He is building on the natural sturdiness of camel hide, and striving to enlarge its scope by using substitutes. The leather is dipped in water in a tub for some time. Then it is taken out and rolled with rolling pin to make it smooth and then dried. Using a modular (a frame), he sketches on the leather. He paints on it in the tie and dye or batik process or with Indian ink or charcoal etc. He dosent use brushes to paint. His finger tips smeared with colors becomes his brush, when he paints. These paintings remind the onlooker about the beautiful Ajantha murals. At times he uses gold and silver foils to enhance the paintings. Stencilling is also done for embossing and relief effects. Once painted a preservative material is applied which protects it from fungal infection and enbrittling. The Medium of painting is not only time-consuming and laborious. His ingenuity is working on newer ways of tanning so that he can overcome the natural handicaps of the medium that develops fungus in monsoon. 

           Anirban creates images from life and nature, spirituality and rationality. One of his subject for these paintings is “Do not Destroy Nature & Environment”. He promotes animal rights and voices environmental concerns through these works. Humans plunder nature for materialistic gains. We must need to concern and protect our environment. He has also done painting on the current corona pandemic. The painting of a wild animal on a plate with knife and fork next to it, depicts the human tendency to devour wild life and which can result in pandemics. He is vocal about environmental issues such as mobile towers resulting in damage to lives of sparrows. He also portrays female beauty on the leather.

 

These paintings are as safe as canvases. They too need the same precaution and security as like any organic artefact. If kept near moist area or exposed to heat and light it can damage the object. But if kept in optimum climatic conditions, it remains in good condition for long time. These products when have to be transported or sold abroad have to follow the same customs restrictions and legal processes as like any animal product, and the legal documents supporting such purchase or transport of objects have to be there. These are one of the good examples of how with a little innovation and research crafts can be made into beautiful artworks.