Artist Bio:

Born in West Medinipur, West Bengal, in 1996, Akshay Maiti earned his Bachelor’s degree in sculpture from Rabindra Bharati University (RBU), Kolkata, in 2019 and is pursuing an MFA in the same discipline at the same university. He has participated in Abir First Take, Annual Show Ahmedabad (2019); Annual Exhibition, West Bengal State Academy, and Rabindra Bharati University Annual Exhibition. Akshay lives and works in Kolkata.

Artist Statement:

My work explores compositional layouts inspired by agricultural stretches, rooted in my rural background. Initially chosen instinctively, these designs now form part of a research-driven practice. I study land cultivation patterns to understand human intervention in natural spaces, focusing on the overlap of cultural and natural landscapes. Drawing from indigenous agricultural layouts, I create motifs that blend foliage and structural elements into sculptural designs, reflecting themes of history, culture, ethnography, and botany. My work reflects the source of my artistic contemplations by merging natural and cultural elements to create aesthetic ambivalence. Focusing on natural design as intrinsic to sculpture, I study vegetal forms and their contexts to add cultural depth. Urban structures overrun by creepers, beehives as architectural references, and rural boundaries as motifs illustrate human-nature interactions. I often juxtapose historical motifs with natural forms to highlight the enduring influence of nature in shaping artistic expression, aiming to build a rich, visually engaging narrative.