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Shovin

"Hello. My name is Shovin Bhattacharjee and I was born and brought up in the mystical town of Shillong in Meghalaya. I love my hometown so much that I could go on talking about it for hours. The awesome landscape, the morning dewdrops dripping from each leaf and the soothing breeze are nothing short of paradise. No wonder, people call it the Switzerland of India. I think this adoration for my hometown is shown clearly in my painting where I have used a lot of landscapes in abstract form.

"I have been painting ever since I came to my senses. In school, I would never miss a chance to participate in drawing and sketching competitions. I have also represented my hometown at the college level. I remember participating in the All India Art Exploration where I got to interact with a lot of artists. This is when I decided to take up art as a profession. My interest in art eventually led me to study for a BFA. I was among the first group of BFA students at Assam University in Silchar. While studying there, I learned a lot about the culture, tradition and the villagers of this state, which gave me a lot of inspiration. When I finished my BFA, I pursued my Masters in Fine Arts. After receiving my MFA, I applied for a scholarship at the National Research Laboratory for Conservation and was fortunate to get it. There I did six months training. I also did an advanced diploma in multimedia and graphics.

"In 2002 I was selected to receive a scholarship to Lalit Kala Academy, another prestigious award. This scholarship brought me to Delhi. Initially, it was difficult adjusting to the atmosphere, especially the warm weather since I come from quite a cold and pleasant town. However, it was a place full of opportunities and prospects, and with opportunity came challenges and competitions. All these made me a stronger person. I got to witness a lot of international exhibitions along with some by famous Indian artists.

"I derive inspiration from nature in all its beauty. Even the smallest thing – like a stone – inspires me. I feel that everything, whether living or non-living, is equally important. I also try to put some abstraction into my painting.

"I have participated in numerous exhibitions, including a solo show in 2002 in Shillong, a group show organized by the Lalit Kala Academy in 2004, and a show of digital prints in the American Center, in Delhi. My paintings have also been exhibited in Canada."