- WHAT PEOPLE SAY
TESTIMONIALS
Atin Basak
I have known Ayan since the early days of his career in 2011. Since then, Ayan has been associated with me and my artistic practice.
At that time, he was very young, and he used to do various exhibitions with the works of many artists in Kolkata. As many do. But he could add a different dimension to the exhibitions. That’s because he looked at the areas of selection of works of art and the artists of significant importance. Perhaps it was because I saw him so closely that—standing at this point, I can take responsibility while telling you—the seeds of today’s curator in him were sown that day.
Later, he curated several shows in different gallery spaces with young and senior artists. Each exhibition caught the attention of many in the art fraternity.
In 2017, Ayan came up with his studio space, A.M. (Art Multi-Disciplines). He started working with contrasting dimensions and endless enthusiasm in his studio space. The very first exhibition at his studio space, called ‘Exordium’, was curated by me. This was a very pleasant and joyful experience for me. Since then, I have been involved with the way Ayan realizes and conceives his artistic practice! While initiating a display space in any big city, the location is selected keeping in mind the convenience of public transportation. In the context, Ayan created a studio space in a marginal corner of the city, in the lane of a colony in South Kolkata. And then, one after the other, his curatorial projects caught the attention of the art lovers of Kolkata very quickly. In my opinion, Ayan’s biggest achievement is the fact that he has built up a wider community of art audiences in his locality and surroundings. Day by day, art lovers have developed massive interest and inquisitiveness in his curations; everyone’s question is what’s next?? Something new, definitely.
I firmly believe this is how Ayan will continue on his own path and establish himself as a successful curator.
Chandra Bhattacharjee
Ayan Mukherjee, as I know him, has grown up surrounded by works of Kolkata-based artists. When he decided to open his own Studio, he had every opportunity to deal with easily-available canvas paintings for which there were ready buyers. But he stood his ground and proved many wrong, adhering to the path of his conviction. He started working with almost or completely unknown sets of artists belonging to the new generation. His approach was not at all sale oriented. He prepared himself with art history courses and in his own way has kept an open and thirsty mind in tune with a fast changing world. I have a lot of expectations from him, and I really want him to succeed in this tough but ultimately satisfying quest
Daniela Belinga Agossa
Bourbonne-les-Bains, France, le 19 Janvier 2024
Ayan Mukherjee is a human, curator, artist, and poet that I got to know better during the 3 projects, 2 in Kolkata, India, and 1 in B.L.B. France, in which we collaborated.
A.M. is a person of extraordinary openness, ready to take risks and see what develops from different points of view. He seems to be hindered very little by what a person in his position and background is expected to do in the world in general and especially in the global contemporary art world.
He tries to realise and create what the place, person, and work need without much fear.
His sources are often found in himself, developing threads from his own life and his personal background. By connecting this to the whole world, it becomes more detached from himself.
A.M. builds intense connections with the different kinds of artists he collaborates with and converses many hours with them to make him understand better and fully immerse himself in the stories.
He calls himself a storyteller, and thus he integrates his powerful poetry, making it part of the specific project.
A.M. is a very talented, concentrated, and decided storyteller who easily attracts what makes him find new ways, wherever needed.
I wish him many new roads and paths opening up in front of him in the future!
And thank him for the adventurously thrilling collaborations.
Paul Holmes
I was introduced to AM by a mutual friend. I had a project in development that I had wanted to realise for a long time. I knew as soon as I saw his gallery space that it was right for the project. But what I didn’t know at the time was how right AM was for this project too, as curator, and for me, as collaborator.
As a curator, AM is fueled by curiosity, by a need to go deep into a project, and understand its essence. This makes him a critical partner, but also fiercely loyal and determined. Once he has decided on an exhibition, you know it is sure to happen. My installation was due to hang in March of 2020, just as the whole world was shutting down. But this wasn’t the end for our plans, merely a pause. It gave us time to think and discuss, to get to know one another and the work in a more involved and fundamental way. When the world opened up and the show did take place, the results moved us both profoundly, and all who came to see it.
AM’s approach to curation is imaginative, active and creative. It is important to him to take part in the exhibition himself as a poet, adding to and interpreting the work through his writings. This enables the artist to understand their work in new and exciting ways, and the spectator to engage with it on a whole different level.
AM’s work is borne of passion, of generosity, and out of a creative spirit. The artist and the work are cared for with commitment, love and understanding. An artist cannot ask more of any curator.
Rounak Patra
The term “collaboration” (specifically in visual art territory) was absolutely unknown to me when I first met Ayan Da. In a simple way, if I paint with a brush on a canvas, I become the brush to him, i.e., I become the medium. This very genre was absolutely amazing to me, especially the outcome of the story, or rather, the art work, which became more powerful. The language plays a completely different ball game then. He gives plenty of freedom while working; that’s the best part I like about him; it is not like you are my “medium” and you have to work like I say. Furthermore, he discusses and analyses what the artist is thinking. I think not only me, but whoever worked with him can really merge with him at ease. It is a pleasure to work with such an independent individual who not only thinks about himself but also his collaborative colleague/ artist.
