Artists Tapas Datta and Thomas Henriot showcasing their artwork at Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
In a unique blend of art, culture, and history, French artist Thomas Henriot has collaborated with Bengali artist Tapas Datta to create a 22ftx7ft artwork depicting the ghats of the Ganga river at Hatibagan Sarbojanin, one of the most popular Durga Puja pandals in north Kolkata.
The artwork, crafted using golden threads, which took over two years of research and work to complete, features the Basu Bati Palace in Baghbazar, a historic site for Durga idols, which are taken for immersion in the Ganga after the festivities are over. “It was one of the most important Durga pujas in Kolkata. It is a beautiful mix of history, culture, and architecture. It is my tribute to Kolkata,” said Mr. Henriot, who has been visiting the city for the past 20 years.
The French artist said the use of golden threads was a “conscious choice” to pay homage to the Silk Route that traversed the Indian subcontinent. This is the first time such an artwork is being unveiled in Kolkata to the public and it will be exhibited at venues across India and Europe. He initially created a painting of the 19th-century palace, which was then translated into a textile medium and replicated using gold threads. He drew inspiration from the city’s rich history and architecture to create the artwork.
Mr. Henriot – who studied art at Ecole des Beaux Arts de Besançon in France and lives and works in Rio de Janeiro, Havana, and Paris – collaborates with artists from across the world. He is known for artwork using ink on Japanese rice paper scrolls that are 45 cm wide and up to 25 metres long.
‘Display real glory’
“People talk about the ghats of Benaras; they are so popular. But our ghats are equally beautiful and historic. I want people to see these ghats in their real glory. My art this year is an attempt to do that,” Mr. Datta said while giving finishing touches to the artwork hours before the pandal opened to the public.
Mr. Datta aims to put the spotlight on the ghats of Kolkata through a series of paintings, a project that will feature collaborations with four artists from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata.
Meanwhile, the organisers of the Hatibagan Sarbojanin Durga Puja pandal said they chose this theme because of the locality’s proximity to some of the oldest ghats of the Ganga. “Our heritage and history are intertwined with the history of the ghats,” said one of the organisers.
This collaboration is not the first of its kind in Kolkata’s Durga Puja festivities. Last year, Irish artists Lisa Sweeney and Richard Babington collaborated with Bengali artist Sanjib Saha to create a unique blend of goddess Durga and Irish goddess Danu at the Behala Nutan Dal Durga Puja pandal in south Kolkata. It was created to commemorate 75 years of India-Ireland diplomatic relations.
Published – September 23, 2025 01:13 am IST
