Arun Bose

Arun Bose images of deserted old buildings with courtyards, terraces with occasional peacocks, or their shadows silhouetted against old walls seem haunted by memories of medieval India. He uses layers of paints, which he occasionally rubs with a rag dipped in alcohol to achieve the texture of old worn stones. The charm of Bose's paintings however, lies in their smooth lacquer-like finish and immaculate craftsmanship. Set against a flat burnished background, the architecture - illuminated by a steady golden light that streaks across the picture from some low-lying source - casts deep shadows and evokes a sense of mystery. In Bose's own words in the Christian Science Monitor,   'Shadow is much more mysterious than life. If I see life, I see everything. But if I see shadow, only the silhouette - the rest you imagine. I like mystery'.

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