Arabinda Samanta is a contemporary artist who was born and brought up at Garbalia Jagatballavpur, a remote village of Howrah in West Bengal. He qualified his degree from Government Collage of Art and Craft, University of Calcutta in 2000. After that he had been working for 3 years with some senior artists of Bengal at their studio. In 2004, he went to Mumbai and still living and working there. Although he is comfortable with all the mediums viz. Oil, Water Colour, Charcoal, Ink, Pastel etc. but prefer to use acrylic on canvas most because it is easier for him to bring a textural effect on canvas as per the requirement of his painting. Spirituality is the main theme of his painting. Actually, he is deeply inspired by Indian mythology, the power of meditation and spirituality. He always tries to know himself through meditation. Indian Tantra also attracts him very much. He want to devote himself to the total power of Universe, for the peace of mind, for total freedom from all earthly problem and tension, self healing and for supreme enlightenment. Probably, that’s why spirituality comes to his painting very naturally. He believes only spirituality can connect us with the divine energy of this Universe and helps us to get a peaceful life. He has awakened to the realization that sex and love making are sacred and part of one’s spiritual progression. He calls love making a religion because it results in the creation of life as children are being born. In his free time he likes to listen to music, read books and write about his feelings. According to him, one should express his feelings through any medium of art – be it music, dance, writing poetry etc. Sometimes he play violin as it gives him immense pleasure. He did his first solo show at Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. Many reviews came in various newspapers and he got a huge appreciation that helped him to build his confidence. After that he had done many exhibitions in different cities of India and abroad. Two of his paintings were collected from his solo show which was held on Lokayata Art Gallery, Delhi in 2014 by the museum of Sacred Art in Italy. At that time they were collecting various types of art - paintings, sculptures, movies which are based on Indian mythology and spirituality to pay a tribute to Indian culture. It is an indeed a notable achievement for him. He always maintains to live life in a very simple way as he has spent a long time of his life in village. Till now he carries that essence of simplicity of village life in him. Every morning he gets up early to meet the first ray of the sun to express his gratitude to God and do meditation. It is a fact that everything of his spiritual progression comes naturally in his painting. In his words, “I think art has its own meditating power. My aim is to create painting with the belief that art can inspire people and bring joy and positive energy into this world.”
