MAPPING ARTISTIC THOUGHTS

In a chat with Bazaar India, prolific Indian painter, Paresh Maity shares everything from his childhood inspiration to global expression.

- PRIYANKA KATHURIA

The roots of artistic passion can often be traced back to pivotal moments, especially during one’s childhood. Such is the case for Indian painter Paresh Maity—an artist who credits the origin of his creative calling to Tamluk, a quaint village in Bengal. As a wide-eyed seven-year-old, Paresh’s first encounter with artisans sculpting Durga Puja idols left an indelible mark on his impressionable mind. “It was just about a month before Durga Puja—our district had been hosting puja for nearly 100 years. The idols are created in the temple, not a pandal. Every other day, I would either skip school or find some time before or after to visit the temple and look at the idols, how they’d transform from one stage to another. That memory helped develop my childhood urge to become an artist,” shares Paresh.