Untitled

Artist: Shyamal Mukherjee
Medium: Reverse Acrylic
Size: 36 × 36 inches (91.44 × 91.44 cm)

Commanding the viewer’s gaze through its vibrant color palette and theatrical composition, this reverse acrylic painting by Shyamal Mukherjee presents a compelling synthesis of narrative figuration and Indian folk aesthetic. The central figure, a whimsical, stylized character astride a motorcycle, is rendered with bold contouring, exaggerated facial features, and elaborate ornamentation, transforming the everyday into an exuberant spectacle of visual storytelling.

Executed on the reverse side of the acrylic surface, a technique requiring meticulous planning and layering, Mukherjee demonstrates technical mastery and a deep engagement with craft. The protagonist, with his dramatic mustache, bulbous eyes, and animated expression, wears a costume of resplendent hues and kaleidoscopic patterns that evoke the visual language of traditional Indian miniature and folk painting. The character’s clothing and regal headgear speak to a performative identity, blending elements of comic exaggeration and cultural iconography.

Equally ornate is the motorcycle beneath him, painted in tones of grey, black, and white but enlivened by bursts of bright color and intricate detailing. Rather than merely a vehicle, the motorcycle becomes an extension of the figure’s personality, an emblem of whimsical mobility and flamboyant character. Every component of the machine is rendered with decorative intent, seamlessly merging with the figure’s theatrical presence. The background is an arresting tapestry of repeated motifs in yellow, green, and red, interspersed with stylized flora and fauna, lotus blossoms, birds, and rhythmic leaf patterns. These elements not only provide a lush decorative field but also reference traditional Indian textile and mural practices, grounding the painting in a visual heritage that is both local and timeless.

Mukherjee’s visual language straddles humor and craftsmanship, playfulness and precision. The surface brims with joy and vitality, yet it is also layered with socio-cultural nuance, subtly commenting on identity, modernity, and tradition. The flatness of form, bright coloration, and dense ornamentation position this work within a contemporary folk-pop idiom, while the reverse acrylic medium infuses it with a luminosity that accentuates its theatrical charm. In this exuberant tableau, Shyamal Mukherjee invites the viewer into a world where tradition meets irreverence, and where storytelling unfolds through every decorative flourish and expressive line.