INSPIRATION
French Influence
Indian Origin
“This bicultural heritage is my wealth, my powerful leaven guide to curiosity and imagination.” Sen Shombit
KEY ELEMENTS OF FRENCH INFLUENCE ON SEN
My values as a French national anchors me with secularism in my heart and mind to appreciate Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, giving me the freedom to think and create.
The continuous revolutionary evolution of European art, architecture, science and philosophy mesmerizes Sen. When at age 19 he arrived in France from a radically different culture in India, the cultural differences between the two countries astonished him. The artistic culture of France structured and opened his imaginative art journey. He then discovered Voltaire’s quote on freedom of expression: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” That’s when he understood why so many immigrant artists come to France. This made him enter and imbibe French culture as his inspiration and freedom of expression in his art. Here are 8 demonstrative examples of how Sen educated himself to absorb French values in his veins.
IMPACT OF INDIAN COLOURS ON SEN
My AICA root of sensitive Indian socio cultural and moral values have shaped me from my childhood.
Colour drives Indian society in every aspect of daily life. A profusion of irreverent colours in Sen’s paintings define his Indian origin even as his paintings, abstract with hidden figuratives, have Western artistic structural discipline. India’s 1.4 billion people abundantly, irreverently and in total freedom, use colours without any worry of disturbing any social system. That’s because colour is embedded in Indian culture, brightness is the key. Colour is a part of inclusiveness which has no dogma of good and bad. How India’s heritage of colour has influenced Sen is evident in the 8 examples here: