This big medical painting is in line with all the historic medical paintings done by past master artists such as Thomas Eikins, Rembrandt, Luciano Nezzo, Ugo Matania, Emma Mieville et al. This one-of-a-kind image is a depiction of a Covid ICU, where medics were busy at work despite all the dangers attached to it. There is no other known COVID painting in the world that involves first-hand experience of a Covid ICU and the situation. It shows the global crisis of this era in its actuality.
I conceived the idea when I was extremely ill with Coronavirus in July 2020. I could barely move my body on the bed and could not breath due severe pneumonia. It took me 22 days in the hospital to recover; during that time I planned the painting. I took the opportunity to create this medical painting to get an inside view of an ICU, treatment procedure etc. through taking numerous photo references, mobile app sketches of the doctor’s poses, equipment, treatment procedure, patients’ postures etc. The first draft of the painting itself was constructed while being in the ICU and later developed further after being released.
Even when the doctors were not sure about my situation, I found new strength (my wife recovered much earlier). I was thinking whether I could use my mind, eyes and hands to make that time useful and create something that would represent the time in which we lived.
I started drawing the medical people with mobile drawing apps, taking numerous photos of the ICU and started constructing the painting at that point. Poses were all taken from life while they were doing their dangerous job. This image is a depiction of a Covid ICU, where medics are busy with work without any sentimentality attached to it, caring for patients, working on the basis of data and observation.
Although this painting shows only the medical side, this is also a tribute to the ones who were involved in other fields, while they were at risk themselves!
Thank you so much for your generous comment!
ReplyDeleteWonderful work of art...really sums the pandemic in the best possible way. COVID icu a place where life was on the line..the hope and the fear rightly depicted in this work
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous comment.
DeleteMaster Work. Artist's First hand experience as Covid ICU patient. Appaul to Artist's Hunger. Your courage shows, Artist is always ready and hungry to paint every Situation. 👏👏
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous comment.
DeleteWhat a brilliant piece of art. Two thumbs up. A realistic sketch with complete details. Showing the struggle of human being to survive during covid, and the doctors appear as God to the patients. Beautifully defined by the artist, seems like real.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your generous comment. By the way your brother came. We had a nice chat.
DeleteLot of work into one art piece. Definitely a fine realistic work.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your comment!
DeleteYou know exactly what you want to create and do it with perfection.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn’t matter what you draw; you’re in it, making every detail count. We love your paintings because there’s always some message within..
Thank you Sushmita. A person who's true to her words.
DeleteA masterpiece without a doubt. Capture the essence of the worldwide crisis. Art actually represents the "struggle" between life and death confronted by millions. However, what amazes me is that you were in the ICU struggling. Made this piece the art of “Courage”.
ReplyDeleteTruly Inspiring 👏👏👏
Thanks very much Vikram for your generous comment.
DeleteI recognise importance of this work as social history through the eyes of the artist's ordeal, captured in oils, that carries for many their own experience or thoughts of loved ones and a shared global event that stopped the world. You are an artist who beautifully captures the world around you - here is the essence of many themes from the perspective of the staff, the patients and a vital piece of our times.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your generous comment.
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DeleteMasterpiece Work :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you Anindita
DeleteYou are covid suffered, your experience in hospital as indoor patient painted excellently . God bless you :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for your generous comment.
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ReplyDeleteWonderful .. When life threw stones at you...you converted that into work of art and out of that experience of suffering created beautiful artwork
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! 🙏
DeletePainting is just another way of keeping a diary. Remembering one of the famous quote of Aristotle "The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance." - Aristotle
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteThis is going to be a little long. But please bear with me. It's not just a comment, but somewhat a testimonial. Having known the artist and his work for a considerable amount of time, I never had an iota of doubt on the talent this man possesses. I have come across numerous works of Mr. Mukherjee. But this one is a class apart. Having witnessed the situation first hand, and then replicating the same on the canvas with such finesse, speaks volumes of his talent. The details, the intricacies, and the amount of hard work & dedication that went into creating the preparatory sketches, drafts, and color experimentation to end with such a masterpiece surely tells us a lot about the experience the artist went through. It's not everyday we can be witness to a life changing experience the entire globe has gone through. This is not just a painting; it's life - as real as it can get. And the quality of the work is so amazing that the characters seem to pop out as if they are alive. The colors, the reflections, the attention to detail in such a macabre situation; this piece of work truly deserves huge applause.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Indranil
DeleteA very realistic rendition of the scene within numerous ICUs across the globe, with thorough attention to detail. This is as real as it gets! The artist's own experiencing of the scene is vividly captured in the painting, to great effect...
ReplyDeleteThanks very much your comment! 🙏
DeleteA very powerful statement from a very talented artist... this painting brings the ICU scene to life.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the comment!
DeleteI have known Kaustav Mukherjee from a very long time, I have seen his numerous paintings and everytime it used to surprised me. However this one is special because at this time he was fighting to survive, however the artist in him was moving forward towards a new creation. This painting will be remembered for a generation because it will showcase the reality of covid and the situation we faced during that time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your generous comment Bro! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat work Kaustav...really a masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteThank you 🙏
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