Realism and her adoration for Kolkata’s rich cultural heritage combined on canvas, “Kalighaat” by Anukta Mukherjee Ghosh reminiscence of the streets of the Kalighaat temple complex. Recreating the journey of a devotee from the streets to the sanctum, the painting depicts a typical shop found on each side of any Indian street leading to a temple. An astute profusion of red gives the canvas an eye-catching effect while filling it with the presence of Shakti (primordial energy, symbolized often by the color red).
Sacred red threads, chunri, garlands, photos of goddesses, and frames with images of Kalighaat temple and other faint figures cover the length and breadth of the painting. On the left half of the viewer, is a female, dressed in a traditional red saree and Shankha-Pola bangles (red and white), probably the seller, appears in a content mood.
Like many other artworks of the artist, this one speaks to the audience with the image of an empowered woman, independent and proud to be in a space she has created for herself. A splendid sense of realism can also be seen in the depiction of the face of the goddess in the frames hanging above the woman, appearing enlivened, as if her lotus eyes are guarding the space of her devotee. Picking a scene that the passerby sees and forgets in a flicker, and elevating it to the level of a profound artwork, this acrylic on canvas embodies the transformative spirit and commitment to the mundane that is seen in classic realism.
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