Cirus of Life

CIRCUS OF LIFE

Ashok Hazra’s latest series of paintings titled ’Circus of Life’ is mirroring a palette of complex emotions and is a reflection which suggests the deep-rooted philosophy of life. Each frame aches with beauty and profound melancholy hidden behind the quintessential white-faced clown. The clown with his different acts of silliness and playfulness only goes on to show how one juggles different roles, responsibilities and conspires to go through life camouflaged behind a face painted with the colours of pain, sorrow, joy and happiness.

The series ‘Circus of Life’ reflects the artists positive take on life with its magical exciting experiences and moments depicted by the array of colours, strokes, textures, movements, props, layers and backgrounds in the paintings. The clown symbolises that life should not be taken seriously and that humans should have the capacity to laugh at their own folly. This is Ashok Hazra the artist, the family man, the educator, the philosopher at his honest, transparent best opening the door to his heart and soul through his paintings.

The series culminates the meaningful eight decades of the artist as a traveller through the journey of life on earth.

Born in 1946 at Midnapore, Ashok Hazra's childhood was literally spent in the embrace of nature. His traditional and rustic upbringing in rural West Bengal as well as his later life in Kolkata still bears a strong impression on Hazra who now teaches art to the students of Mayo College in Ajmer, Rajasthan. Hazra painted his first watercolor at the age of four, when he decided to copy a village scene. Seeing this inclination, his family never hesitated in encouraging him to develop this natural talent. His chief inspiration of course was the lush and fertile landscape of rural Bengal. Hazra is an alumnus of the Delhi College of Arts, graduating in 1974, and won several prestigious awards in his career. The artist lives and works in Ajmer, Rajasthan.