A set from Baba Bibi

Artist: Shyamal Mukherjee
Medium: Reverse Acrylic on Acrylic Sheet
Size: 12 × 12 inches (each)
Year: 2025

Shyamal Mukherjee’s Baba Bibi Series captures the charm, humor, and intimacy of everyday Bengali life through a bold, stylized visual language. Executed in reverse acrylic on acrylic sheet, this vibrant diptych-style set portrays a man and a woman, affectionately referred to as “Baba” and “Bibi”, in an exaggerated, yet endearing, caricatured style. The portraits are unmistakably rooted in folk traditions, but with a contemporary edge that blends storytelling and visual playfulness.

In the portrait of the man (“Baba”), Mukherjee paints a figure with a large, rounded face rendered in a warm, yellow-orange hue. His stern, somewhat comical expression is emphasized by oversized black-rimmed glasses and a sweeping dark mustache. A red bindi or tilak is marked on his forehead, possibly suggesting a religious or cultural signifier. His red lips contrast sharply with his otherwise serious gaze, introducing a playful juxtaposition. He dons a richly patterned maroon-red garment and a bright blue turban-like headwrap, further enhancing his character through costume. The mottled orange-gold background, along with the clear, crisp contours of the reverse painting technique, lends a strong sense of polish and clarity to the work.

In the counterpart portrait (“Bibi”), the woman’s face is round and expressive, with full cheeks and a bright yellow-gold complexion that is peppered with fine, dark stippling. This dotting technique adds texture and a folk sensibility to her otherwise smooth features. She wears translucent, oversized glasses that highlight her dark-lined, thoughtful eyes. Her lips are a striking red, echoing the tone seen in the male figure’s mouth, and a red bindi marks her forehead, another cultural reference. A gold nose ring and an ornate, stylized necklace add elements of traditional jewelry, emphasizing her adornment and persona. Her head is draped with a vibrant orange-red scarf patterned with whimsical blue fish motifs—a repeating design element also seen in the background, hinting at regional or symbolic meaning.

Together, the two portraits celebrate personality and cultural identity with affection and humor. Shyamal Mukherjee’s technique, reverse acrylic painting, adds a luminous quality to the colors, enhancing the graphic precision and vitality of the characters. Baba Bibi is both a playful homage to everyday people and a sophisticated use of folk-art language in contemporary portraiture