The City as Canvas
Urban sketching offers a unique way to capture the dynamic spirit of a city, a practice taken to heart by artist Avidip Kundu. He transforms fleeting moments
into enduring art, drawing inspiration from the vibrant streetscapes of Kolkata. His work goes beyond mere architectural representation, imbuing each drawing with the palpable atmosphere and energy of the location. For Kundu, the act of sketching outdoors is an immersive experience, where the environment, the specific moment in time, and the ambient mood all coalesce to become integral elements of the final artwork. This approach allows him to convey not just what the city looks like, but how it *feels*.
A Lifelong Affair
Avidip Kundu's artistic journey began at the young age of 14, with a resolute decision to focus his creative energies on Kolkata and to employ pen and ink as his chosen mediums. Growing up amidst the distinctive charm of North Kolkata, he found endless inspiration in the architectural nuances of its verandahs, the iconic tram lines weaving through its streets, and the timeworn facades of its historical buildings. He finds that the inherent 'rustic and vintage texture' of Kolkata is perfectly complemented by the sharp, expressive quality of pen and ink. While he occasionally introduces subtle watercolour washes, the foundational layer always remains the distinctive mark of the pen. His deliberate engagement with the city as a subject intensified around 2007-08, a period when live sketching of Kolkata was relatively uncommon among artists. His artistic scope has since broadened, moving from an initial focus on prominent landmarks to a deeper exploration of the subtler elements that collectively define the city's unique identity, such as its trams, rickshaws, and intimate lanes.
Live Sketching Realities
Urban sketching presents a distinct departure from studio-based artistic creation, emphasizing the immediacy of live observation. Kundu highlights that urban sketching is fundamentally about capturing a live atmosphere, a fusion of the subject matter and its surrounding environment. He points out that each city possesses its own distinct environmental character – Kolkata's bustling urbanity, for instance, differs significantly from the ambiance of Mumbai or Delhi, and effectively rendering this distinctiveness is a primary artistic challenge. Working outdoors, particularly in a vibrant metropolis like Kolkata, introduces a set of inherent difficulties. A significant hurdle is the limited availability of comfortable, dedicated spaces for artists to sit and draw in public areas, necessitating a resourceful approach to working within numerous constraints. Nevertheless, this very immediacy also imbues the medium with its unique strength. The inherent advantage lies in the fact that the artist's temporal and environmental experience while on location becomes an inseparable part of the resulting artwork, with the reflections of that specific moment and setting being vividly imprinted onto the sketch.
A Personal Tribute
For Avidip Kundu, the act of sketching is far more than a professional pursuit; it is a deeply personal form of dedication and tribute to his beloved city, Kolkata. He unequivocally states that his profound affection for Kolkata is the driving force behind his ability to produce his best work. Every drawing he creates is, in his view, a contribution to the city, a way of giving back and celebrating its essence. This emotional connection is crucial for him to truly immerse himself in his art and convey its spirit authentically. His dedication to capturing the city's soul is evident in every stroke, transforming his sketches into heartfelt testaments to his love for Kolkata.
