The project titled Mass-Q-Line is an art project including artistic interventions in the public domain, developed by visual artist Sumantra Mukherjee. It was based on discussions about ‘Masculinity’ - and its interpretations in Bengal through questioning some stereotypical identities that it denotes today. Popular films and commercials, along with their propaganda in the public domain keep the myth alive as to what a male should be, and how 'HE' should behave in any given circumstances. So the project is designed mainly to initiate the process of recognising gender biases existing in today’s societal structure and developing an awareness of the unsolicited acceptance towards normalising individual choices of gender identity. It questions the constriction, affirmation of behavioural malpractices and the structured biases related to masculinity as an objectification of power play.
This project is within the framework of a larger two-year project titled M3 - Man, Male, Masculinity.
M3: MAN, MALE, MASCULINE
Sumantra Mukherjee is an independent freelance artist, who divides his time painting in his studio and sharing his artistic creations and expressions in community and public spaces engaging people. He also does illustrations and graphic novels for children, posters, murals and sculpture using mixed media for initiating dialogues between the arts and common people through their responses and expressions.
He chooses his subjects through emphatic involvement and understanding of the difficulties and changes locally around him, allowing the local public, not necessarily interested in artistic practice, to be involved with imageries that Sumantra creates. Thus enabling the viewers to express their own perspectives and ideas about a variety of issues relevant to their lives.
His first solo presentation ‘Cloud 9’ was installed in 2009 in Kolkata followed by other art projects, namely 'Chiriya Chug Gayi Cake’ (When the Bird Nibbles the Cake) displayed in the Society of Contemporary Artist Space, Kolkata, ‘Chalo Painting Tangai', a community art project in an abandoned port area in Kolkata. His solo international projects include, 'NORMAL', at Het Wilde Weten, Rotterdam which was an outcome of a three-month long residency in Netherlands.
