Diptha Modak’s relationship with arts begins at its inception, with nature and all things natural. The University of Development Alternative (UODA) student first interaction with art had been in the third grade, in 2003 and since has become an integral part of his life.
Born in Brahmanbaria District the artist shares fond memories of his hometown, alongside his parents, two sisters and grandfather. “Dadu was my first friend as a child, we spent a lot of time together. We used to go on boats on River Titas, watch puppet shows at local fairs, attend festivals at different temples. I’d always had a strong bond with paints ever since I can remember. In school, my math copy was brimming with doodles more so than equations, which always got me an earful from my math teacher. At that time, I didn’t even have enough money to buy art supplies, so I used whatever, flowers, leaves, broken pieces of red bricks, whatever I could to use as alternatives and I fell in love with the process.”
He emphasises that if anyone’s contribution to his artistic journey was the most significant, it was his mother’s. While he had always had a sense of awareness of his passions, it was his mother who became the backbone to his devotion. “After me, it was my mother who saw and nurtured my art. I first entered into an art competition at the district level, while I did not achieve anything significant from the competition itself, I did gain confidence. The confidence that my mother gave me after my first stumble, to never give up my love for art. I know it gave me the push to move forward, to do better.”
When Diptha Modak bagan painting in the third standard, his mother first admitted him to Brahmanbaria Shishu Natyam Art School for painting. Reminiscing of the hurdles he has passed to achieve his goals, he states, “Our family wasn’t very financially solvent during that period of my life, I remember my mother struggling to save just to pay my school fees. More often than not, during harsh weather and rain, my mother would still find a way to get me to my art competitions. Brahmanbaria Shishu Natyam Art School is where my journey to Charukola began.” A follower of painter, sculptor, radio performer and professor of fine arts, Mustafa Monwar, Modak grew up watching his show on BTV which dealt with his work with watercolours, flourished his fascination with the watercolour. Modak notes, “A love was created, it became my preferred artistic medium. I do occasionally dabble in other mediums such as oil and acrylics but my disposition remains with water colours. I travel with my watercolours to different places.”
His subjects primarily consist of natural scenery, creating depth perception within the canvases layering his watercolour. He considers nature to be his largest studio.
“Working with people’s daily lives, I find myself painting outdoors most of the time. If you want to understand and work with a subject, you have to look in depth at its character. I believe when you are able to see the character of an object, the emotions relating to it will flow through. Trees, boats, mountains, vines, all things in nature have a soul. Everything I use to paint is from nature, so I believe nature helps me paint.”
