Reviving Bat-tala: From 19th-century woodcuts to contemporary masterpieces

This winter, Kolkata has warmed up to a vibrant revival of distinctive woodcut prints also known as Bat-tala paintings, reimagined by a host of contemporary artists.

- ANWESHA SANTRA

Art Magnum, in partnership with the Birla Academy of Art and Culture, has organised an exhibition titled "Tribute to Bat-tala: The Tradition of Bat-tala & Other Practices by the Printmakers" as part of the Bengal Biennale 2024. Curated by renowned art historian Ina Puri, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of 19th-century Bat-tala woodcut prints while showcasing contemporary interpretations by innovative printmakers.

Featuring works that blend traditional craftsmanship with experimental techniques, this exhibition connects the historical significance of Bat-tala with the evolving practices of modern printmaking. Scholarly contributions from Soumik Nandy Majumdar, featured in their published magazine, and collector Sanjeet Chowdhury, offer viewers profound insights into the art form's enduring significance. Co-curators Ananda Moy Banerji, Dattatreya Apte and Sushanta Guha have also contributed to this display, which underlines Kolkata's prominence in the global art scene.

Mediums like intaglio, lithography, linocut, sunmica etching, monoprints and intaglio on board have been used in the paintings exhibited at the display.

"Artists were invited to explore possibilities of hand-painted wood block prints and relate to the technical, conceptual perspectives through the lens of contemporary times. Included herein are traditional and experimental practices, from pure brush painted woodcut to digital improvisation," says curator Ina Puri.

The exhibition also features woodcut paintings on canvas adorned with gold, silver and copper leaf. One of the paintings offers a heartfelt social commentary, calling for justice for Tilottama, the trainee doctor brutally raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, in the early hours of 9 August this year.