Guwahati: A retrospective exhibition on eminent Assamese artist Benu Misra was inaugurated at the Nandan Art Gallery of Kala Bhavana, Visva-Bharati University, in Santiniketan on Tuesday, bringing into focus his artistic legacy and his engagement with both Assam and Santiniketan traditions.
Titled “Between Riverlight and Red Soil: A Retrospective of Benu Misra”, the exhibition has been curated by Meghali Goswami, Associate Professor at Kala Bhavana, with support from the Benu Misra Memorial Trust.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Kala Bhavana Principal Sisir Sahana in the presence of Vice Principals Lawan K. Mowlong and Bhavna Khajuria Basumatary. Several academicians, artists and cultural figures attended the event.
Speakers at the inauguration highlighted Misra’s artistic journey, shaped by his training at Santiniketan under noted masters such as Ramkinkar Baij and Benode Behari Mukherjee. They noted that his works reflect a dialogue between the Santiniketan aesthetic and the riverine cultural landscape of Assam.
The exhibition showcases a wide range of Misra’s works, including paintings, sculptures, graphic designs and archival material, offering a comprehensive overview of his career. Particular attention has been drawn to his Death Series, which engages with the socio-political upheavals of the Assam Agitation through symbolic and abstract forms.
Artists and scholars also reflected on his role in shaping modern art practices in Northeast India. His contributions include founding the Gauhati Artists’ Guild and promoting bronze casting techniques in Assam. His public sculptures of freedom fighters such as Kanaklata Barua and Mukunda Kakoti were noted as significant representations of regional history and identity.
Misra’s work in Assamese publishing, particularly in book cover design and visual identity, was also recognised as an important aspect of his contribution.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until April 1, offering visitors an opportunity to engage with the life and works of one of Assam’s prominent modern artists.