The Black Hole, 2024
Charcoal, Acrylic, Paper pasted on Canvas and Etching on Paper
76.2 x 152.4 cm
Unique Work
Includes Certificate of Authenticity
Inclusive of all taxes
In The Black Hole, Soumen Ray extends his interest in the ordinary lives of people into a parable of attraction and uncertainty. The painting gathers anonymous figures, drawn from the textures of daily life, as they move inexorably toward a dark, consuming center. They advance without pause, unaware of whether the path leads to salvation or collapse. This pull, both collective and unquestioned, mirrors the ambiguities of contemporary society—where imagination, desire, and survival intermingle with doubt. The work unfolds as a visual narrative, inviting viewers to pause within its tension: is the black hole a danger, a promise, or merely a reflection of ourselves? In transforming the everyday into allegory, Ray makes space for contemplation, layering simplicity with unsettling complexity, and leaving us with more questions than answers.
Rooted in memory and everyday encounters, Soumen Ray’s (b. 1999) practice is shaped by the aesthetics of embroidery and the cultural histories embedded in domestic craft. Having grown up watching his mother and aunts embellish household textiles—pillow covers, fabrics, and other functional objects—with embroidered flowers, butterflies, and personal motifs, Ray carries forward this tradition as a contemporary painter. For him, embroidery is not only a technique but also a way of investing ordinary surfaces with meaning, intimacy, and care. By translating these motifs into his imagery, Ray repositions what is often considered a decorative or marginal craft into a central language of his artistic practice. Bringing together painting, memory, and embroidery, Ray’s practice continues to evolve as a meditation on simplicity, care, and the transformation of the ordinary into the poetic.
Ray completed his BFA in Painting from the College of Visual Art, Indira Kala Sangit Vishwavidyalaya (2016–2020), where he began exploring embroidery as an extension of his painting practice. He further honed his skills at Lalit Kala Academy, Kolkata (2021–22), and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Visual Arts (Painting) at the University of Kalyani (2022–24). His work has been exhibited widely, including at the Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata; Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata; West Bengal State Akademi Annual Exhibition; Paschim Banga Charukola Exhibition; and multiple university annual shows. Over the past few years, he has received recognition through awards such as the College of Visual Art Annual Exhibition Award (2019), the Paschim Banga Charukola Award for Painting (2022), and the prestigious Kala Sakshi Memorial Trust Scholarship (2023).
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"I prefer to represent my daily life experience through my art practice. I believe in the simplicity of life and its beauty through surrounding experiences."