Rooted in Nature, Bratin Khan’s art feels each private and poetic. His first solo exhibition, Mirror of Vision, at Kalakriti Art Gallery in Hyderabad, is autobiographical — born out of goals, recollections, and lived experiences gathered over time.
“The characters in my works are not mythical,” says the Kolkata-based artist. “They emerge from my dreams and visions.” He gestures in direction of a 4×4-foot canvas titled Voyage, depicting a serene boat experience — a reflection of his personal journeys throughout his faculty days in the Nineteen Eighties. “The River Atrai, which flows near our village Chakvigru in Dakshin Dinajpur, was like a guardian. We cried before it when we experienced loss, and we paid tribute to it when we achieved something.”
By Bratin Khan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
The exhibition options 26 work rendered in the tempera type — a conventional method in which pigments are blended with a water-soluble binder. Through this methodology, Bratin creates luminous, layered works that open a window to his internal world. His canvases have a good time life and positivity, depicting vibrant scenes of flora and fauna — lotus and lily ponds, leaves, flowers, and human figures adorned with delicate jewelry and a mild radiance.
“My canvases emerge from myriad experiences,” he says. “Many are drawn from moments in my childhood — the light, the river, the rhythm of rural life — all of which continue to find their way back into my art.”
Inspired by music
Bratin Khan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
As Bratin walks us via the exhibition, he speaks fondly of his fascination with childhood landscapes and music. He remembers the twilight hours and the “distinct smell of cool air” earlier than daybreak. “There’s a different melody to that hour,” he says. “It’s when unique ragas like Miyan ki Malhar and Aahir Bhairav were created.” A singer himself, Bratin usually attracts inspiration from the rhythms and moods of music.
Interestingly, his inventive journey started not with portray however with sculpture. As a scholar at Visva Bharati University in Santiniketan, he held his first show — a sold-out exhibition that allowed him to develop into financially unbiased. “I sold my paintings and sculptures to manage my expenses,” he remembers.
By Bratin Khan
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
When mould appeared on considered one of his early work, Bratin sought steering from Mrittunjay Goswam, a disciple of the Abanindranath School of Painting. From there, he learnt the wash method and step by step developed his personal tempera methodology, combining it with the miniature portray traditions that proceed to affect his type.
Each of Bratin’s works is meticulously composed quite than spontaneous. “Nothing is by accident on my canvas,” he explains. “Every brushstroke is deliberate — layered to build tone, depth, and atmosphere.”
By Bratin Khan
A believer in spirituality, Bratin insists his work are usually not mythological illustrations however emotional reflections. “The ornate jewels represent happiness,” he says with a smile. “I want my art to feel positive — to help you dream, to remind you that beauty can still be gentle.”
Bratin Khan’s solo show, Mirror of Vision, is on at Kalakriti Art Gallery until November 9
