Arup's pulsating collage

Homage to Rabindranath by Arup Kumar Barua

Rafi Haque, who was organising the exhibit, referred to Arup as a "young, promising artist". "The speed captured in the lines and colours, the expression of human relationships, emotions and their complexities are well expressed. The work reflects futuristic painting." Eltham Kabir, of the Society for Promotion of Bangladeshi Art, the chief guest said," I'm impressed by the collages, done both on paper and canvas. His use of colours and materials is very imaginative." RA Kajol, back from Scandinavia, adds, "Style-wise it is related to Russian cubistic work, with the sharp angles and bright colours. Some of the work is surrealistic too."

Arup, speaking about his work said," I've taken different photo impressions from magazines and combined them in my work. These help to express my pictorial compositions and work with my thought process. The words in themselves have stimulated me. I've cut and pasted coloured papers too. What is most important in my work is the movement that has been captured. I believe that movement is vital in the world today, and they usher in technology and the change in man's change in thought processes".

Penetration, which comprises of mixed media and collages, expresses the artists' emotions and experiences, both sad and happy ones. In Dreamed space he has created a surrealistic sense of space so that one feels that one has entered a tunnel and large bright forms are whizzing by. The tunnel is created by the placing of windows within windows. The round and spiral forms are related to the work.

Asked about the problems he faces while at work, Arup says," If I'm upset for some reason, the freshness and confidence with which I'd begun my work are diminished. If my inspiration is hampered, I find it difficult to go ahead with my work." Speaking about how he goes about his work, he says that his paintings are preplanned, whether it be on a scrap of white paper or mentally. "I give importance to spontaneity but I believe in planning too. Sometimes I do a few paintings all lined up at one time, with me adding the forms and colours." In between his work he reads, listens to music of all types, watches video. Talking about the source of inspiration he says that it is his father and uncle rather than any particular artist. He says cubists like Picasso and Braque have inspired him along with futurist artists. He also greatly admires SM Sultan and Rashid Chowdhury.

Arup has won four awards, including the Quamrul Hassan gold medal award for the best student of the year 1994.