Original artwork description:

‘The Clear Stream Of Reason ’ is an acrylic painting with photo collage on 300gms canvas paper. It is presented in a white card window mount. The painted image is 29.5 x 22cms and the mounted frame is 35.5 x 28cms. ‘The Clear Stream Of Reason’ is part of a series of painted studies which are responses to my understanding of urban and rural Indian culture. India’s second-biggest city Kolkata is a daily festival of human existence, simultaneously noble and squalid, cultured and desperate. It is a contradiction of wealth and poverty. My observations are based on all the signs of life in the densely populated chaotic streets of Kolkata. The brightly coloured buses, taxis, bikes, hand pulled and bike driven rickshaws ferry passengers between the overpopulated streets are the inspiration behind this work. I have been fortunate to have access to a large portfolio of photographs of Kolkata taken by artist / photographer Kevin Lole. Kevin documented his time in Kolkata through photographs that illustrate the busyness of everyday life. ‘The Clear Stream Of Reason’ is one of three painted studies based on the busy overcrowded streets and transport system. The regular buses are coloured in iridescent yellow and blue and are decorated with colourful text The painting ‘The Clear Stream Of Reason’ is a study that tries to capture the atmosphere of colour and chaotic order. One of Kevin Lole’s many photographs that have inspired this painting is included in the supporting images.

Materials used:

Acrylic paint, dyes and paper collage on 300gms canvas paper