Ganesh Pyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ganesh Pyne
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| Born | 11 June 1937 Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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| Died | 12 March 2013 (aged 75) Kolkata, West Bengal, India
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| Education | Government College of Art & Craft |
| Known for | Painting, drawing |
| Movement | Indian modern art |
Ganesh Pyne (Bengali: গণেশ পাইন) (born 11 June 1937 – died 12 March 2013) was a famous Indian painter and artist. He was born in Kolkata, West Bengal. Pyne was one of the most important modern artists from the Bengal School of Art. He created his own special style. This style was called "poetic surrealism." It mixed fantasy and dark images. His art often used ideas from Bengali folktales and old stories.
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Early Life and Learning
Ganesh Pyne grew up in Kolkata, India. He lived in an old family house. As a child, he loved listening to his grandmother's folktales. He also read many exciting stories from children's books. These stories later helped him create his unique art.
He saw a drawing by Abanindranath Tagore in a children's magazine. Tagore was a very important artist. This drawing made a big impact on young Ganesh. He started reading a lot and drawing for hours. He used chalk on his black slate.
When he was nine, he went through a very difficult time. His father passed away. Then, his family was caught in the Calcutta riots. They had to move to a safe place. These sad events deeply affected his life and art. He later studied art at the Government College of Art & Craft. He finished his studies in 1959.
His Art Career
Ganesh Pyne started his art career in the early 1950s. He first worked as a book illustrator. He also sketched for animated films in Kolkata. During this time, he didn't have much money for colors. So, he made many small drawings using only pen and ink. In 1963, he joined a group called the Society for Contemporary Artists.
His early paintings were influenced by the Bengal school. He especially admired Abanindranath Tagore. His first painting, "Winter's Morning," showed him going to school. He also learned from famous European painters. He liked Frans Hals and Rembrandt for their use of light and shadow. He also admired Paul Klee for his simple style and cubism. Pyne used these ideas to create his own "poetic surrealism." His art often showed themes from Bengali folktales.
His work in animation also helped him develop his style. He was a big fan of movies. He found inspiration in black-and-white films by directors like Ingmar Bergman, Andrzej Wajda, and Federico Fellini.
The 1970s were a very important time for Pyne. He started using watercolors more. Bengal was going through a tough period then. This anger and sadness showed up in his art. A magazine in Mumbai, The Illustrated Weekly of India, published an article. In it, a famous artist named M. F. Husain said Pyne was the best painter in India. This made Pyne very well-known.
Even though he became famous, Pyne was a private person. He didn't like too much attention. He preferred to show his paintings a few at a time. His first solo art show didn't happen until he was over 50 years old. Yet, his paintings were among the most expensive by Indian artists. He became one of the leading painters of the Bengal school. He influenced many younger artists. In his later years, he painted scenes from the Mahabharata. He focused on less famous characters like Ekalavya and Amba.
Ganesh Pyne passed away on 12 March 2013. He was 76 years old. He died in a Kolkata hospital after a heart attack.
His Artistic Style
Pyne first painted with watercolors. Later, he moved to using gouache and tempera paints. His later paintings were abstract and surreal. He often used dark colors like black and blue. His art often showed themes of death, pain, and being alone.
Some people called him the "painter of darkness." This was because of his dark colors and themes. An art critic, Ranjit Hoskote, called him "a poet of sadness." He said Pyne explored hidden parts of his mind. Another writer, Pritish Nandy, said Pyne's paintings told detailed stories. These stories came from the "dark insides of his imagination."
Awards and Recognition
Ganesh Pyne received several awards for his art.
- He was given the Raja Ravi Varma award by the Government of Kerala.
- In 2011, he received a lifetime achievement award. This was from the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
A documentary film was made about him in 1998. It was called A Painter of Eloquent Silence: Ganesh Pyne. The film won a National Film Award for Best Arts Film.
Exhibitions and Shows
Ganesh Pyne's art was shown in many places.
- 'World Youth Festival', Prague - 1968
- Indian International Triennial, New Delhi - 1968 & 1971
- Paris Biennial, Paris - 1970
- Exhibition for Menuhin School of Music, London - 1970
- International Festival of Art, Cagnes-sur-Mer - 1975
- 'Modern Indian Painting', Washington DC - 1982
- 'Contemporary Indian Art', London - 1982
- 'Indische Kunst Heute', Germany - 1982 & 1986
- 'Trends and Images', Calcutta - 1993
- 'Chamatkar – Myth and Magic in Indian Art', London - 1996
- 'Tryst with Destiny – Art from Modern India', Singapore - 1997
- 'Image beyond Image' (traveling exhibition), Japan, New Delhi, Calcutta, Bangalore, Bombay - 1997
- 'Germinal', solo show of jottings, New Delhi - 2014
- Memorialising Ganesh Pyne: Photographs & Photo Collages, Kolkata - 2020
- Ganesh Pyne: From the Shadows, Delhi - 2022
Books About Ganesh Pyne
Several books have been written about Ganesh Pyne and his art:
- Thirst of a Minstrel: The Life and Times of Ganesh Pyne by Shiladitya Sarkar (2004)
- Ganesh Pyne: A Pilgrim in the Dominion of Shadows by Ranjit Hoskote (2005)
- Enchanted Space: The Private World of Ganesh Pyne by Sovon Som (2006)
- Ganesh Pyne, his life and times by Ella Datta (1998)
- Jottings as Paintings of Ganesh Pyne by Arun Ghose (2014)
- Memorialising Ganesh Pyne: Photographs & Photo Collages by Veena Bhargava (2020)
- Ganesh Pyne: A Painter of Eloquent Silence by Pranabranjan Ray (2018)
