"With Green Monkeys" (2012) is one of the most exciting and accomplished large-scale realist oil paintings by rising star, emerging Contemporary Indian artist Saptarshi Naskar (b. 1979). Naskar's iconic mix of traditional Indian figurative imagery with Bollywood-kitsch inspired patterns, objects and colors makes his works singular, exciting and refreshing. In "With Green Monkeys", he forces pale lavender and neon green to co-exist in harmonious discord with one another, as well as with the sepia-toned figures that together form a unique narrative that is energetic and celebratory. The unique and light-hearted manner in which the artist addresses serious issues of identity, consumerism and the socio-economic place of India and of his generation are gaining him international fame and critical acclaim.
Heightening the level of surrealism and adding a pastiche element to the composition, Naskar paints in a photo-realist manner the portraits of three young Indian girls who huddle together smiling and laughing, all dressed in identical school uniforms, painted in sepia-tones that reference vintage photographs. Above these girls hang two, shiny green monkeys, each depicted in an highly artificial manner, so that they feel like plastic toys or cartoons. The artist makes these monkeys that are indigenous to India, even familiar sights in the major urban cities there, metaphors for today's India, filled with artifice, material goods, and day-glo Bollywood glamour. The young girls clearly represent traditional India and an innocence lost.
Saptarshi Naskar received his Bachelor of Visual Art (Painting) from The Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata in 2003 and his Masters Degree in Fine Arts (Painting) from Kala Bhavana, Visva Bharati Santiniketan in 2005. His work has been part of many solo, curated as well as group shows including Triveni Kal Sangam, New Delhi, presented by Krishna Art Gallery, 2005, 2006, The Indian Habitat Center New Delhi. Presented by Krishna Art Gallery, 2006, The Singapore Art Fair, 2007, Harvest 2008-2010 by Arushi Arts New Delhi and the India Art Fair in 2012. He is the recipient of many awards and scholarship including the Certificate of Merit from Govt. College of Art and Craft. Kolkata,2001-2002, the ‘Atul Bose’ Award from Govt. College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, 2003. He is presently Visiting Faculty in Amity School of Fine Arts, Amity University, Noida, India.
