Artist From Odisha Displays Paintings Using Lacquer In New Delhi

Artist From Odisha Displays Paintings Using Lacquer In New Delhi

If you thought lacquer is used only to make toys and bangles, you need to meet Kesu Das from Balasore, who is currently busy displaying his ‘lacquer paintings’ at an ongoing exhibition at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi! Yes, you heard it right. Das, an exponent and artist of lacquer toys, has been experimenting with his skill and has started making paintings using lacquer.

Das has 11 of his paintings displayed at the exhibition, which will continue till February 18. Interacting with MCL, Das said, “Balasore is famous for its lacquer toys and I have been doing it for many years. But, recently I started experimenting with lacquer. Making toys or other artifacts from lacquer is easy but making paintings from it is a Herculean task as we have to maintain the heat or else it gets solidified.”

With horseshoe crab as the main subject in all his paintings, Kesu has tried to spread awareness on protection of the rare species. “Horse crab was visible in numbers in Odisha coast, now its number is decreasing day by day. Through my paintings, I just want to make people aware about the situation so that this species can be protected.”

“Being a native of Balasore, which is home to both this unique art form and rare species, I feel that it’s my responsibility, besides my passion, to spread awareness about horseshoe crab, lacquer art and make it well known and popular throughout the region,” he said.“I have been propagating lacquer painting on canvas, particularly under the theme titled- The Fossil acquer, a combination of living fossil horseshoe crab as a subject and lacquer as a medium,” he further informed.

Talking about what inspired him to come up with the technique, he said, “The use of lacquer as an imitation pigment by women is mentioned in many ancient texts books and literature. Lacquer is used as binding material with mineral colours in opaque technique by traditional and indigenous craftspersons. I thought to experiment on canvas with lac colour medium. I developed many lacquer paintings using the conventional process. The paintings emphasise on use of nontoxic natural pigments and dye with lacquer on different surfaces especially on canvas. I started doing experiment with four process i.e. traditional process, hot process, cool process and hot & cool process together.”

Initially, Kesu Das practiced through the application of traditional process techniques on waste materials. He also experimented with terracotta lacquer painting. “After I got a grip with my skill, I started acrylic painting on canvas using lacquer painting which is done through both hot process technique and cool process technique. I also brush liquid lacquer and lac coloured threads, which are prepared by me.”The tools and techniques Kesu Das uses to make lacquer paintings are pottery kiln, canvas, JKK oven to hit small size lacquer painting, JKK heat chamber to hit small size lacquer painting and hair dryer. For designing, he uses mehendi cone and iron pin and sometimes painting brushes.

It is important to mention that JKK oven and JKK heat chamber have been innovated by Kesu himself for smooth lacquer painting. Kesu plans to organise regular workshops and seminars all over the country to promote the art form. “This art form needs to be promoted among people as it is unique,” he summed up.