Inspired by PM Modi's appeal, this Odia 'smoke' artist will soon make toys using plastic bags, waste
Sadhna is a beautiful Hindi word for any practise that leads to perfection. For us, it might be a word, but for Odia artist Deepak Biswal, it is a way of life. After all, perfecting something as elusive as smoke art requires a whole lot of sadhna. The 28-year-old has always been a painter and it was his mother who encouraged him to participate in art competitions as a child, irrespective of whether he would win or not. So now, filled with positivity, the point for art for him is all about trying different things. And that's how he got into smoke art.
One of his work | (Pic: Dibiri Dhuan)
But how does Smoke Art work? This art form requires one to cover the entire canvas with soot and then, carefully, depending on the art you have in mind, brush it away. But beware, it is not as easy as we described it to be. Deepak experimented with various candles and lamps and even brushes to get the exact effect he desires. "I also watched and rewatched videos, practiced endlessly and after three years, here I am," says the Cuttack-based artist.
Since smoke art is all soot and chances of it being wiped away is high, he spent about four months only on researching on the best varnish that would preserve the work best
And where is here, exactly? Well, he met the Governor of Odisha Ganeshi Lal last year and gifted him one of his pieces. "He was so fascinated and surprised that he asked me to prepare one for the President of India Ram Nath Kovind who was going to visit Odisha," says the excited artist and he got to work right away. But alas, the Corona scare began and everything came to a pause.
One of his work | (Pic: Dibiri Dhuan)
But Deepak's sadhna did not. He manages his family's business during the day. Before starting for work, he does his research extensively on the current art form he is pursuing and after coming back from work, he starts work on his art and literally burns the midnight oil. It is during this time he discovered that the brush used for eyeliner works best for smoke art and he even discovered how to bring colours to the otherwise black and white smoke art. He remains tight-lipped about his processes because he discovered and practised them with great effort, but he recently hosted an online workshop for Rotary Club of Cuttack Golden Star and over 1,400 participants from around the world tuned in.
Currently, he is also experimenting extensively with staple art, using staple pins from a stapler to make art
What Deepak is onto next is even more exciting. He tells us that he is using polythene bags, which are a burden on the planet, to make sculptures. "As per our PM Narendra Modi's call to focus on toys, I also have plans to make toys out of waste and present it to the government," says the graduate from Ravenshaw University who pursued Political Science from there, excitedly. "I want to continue experimenting and never be satisfied," he says with a smile.
His work | (Pic: Dibiri Dhuan)
The advent of smoke art:
- The first work he did was of Mahatma Gandhi
- The second was of that of a bird
- After that, there was no looking back
For more on him, check out facebook.com/dibiridhuan
