Jayasri Burman is a noted contemporary Indian painter. She was born in 1960. She received her training in fine arts from the Kala Bhavan in Shantiniketan, and later from the Visual College of Art, Kolkata. Eventually she received training under the illustrious Monsieur Ceizerzi in print making in Paris. Jayasri Burman hails from a family of prominent artists. She is married to the celebrated artist Paresh Maity. Her uncle Sakti Burman, residing in France, is an illustrious Indian artist. Expert artist Maya Burman is her cousin.
Jayasri Burman`s work can be regarded as masterpiece, which has `a dream-like and lyrical quality with unique sensitivity`. Her works are primarily inspired from the Indian folk element. Through each of her creation the refreshing quality of forthrightness and honesty is reflected. The originality of her paintings is very delighting. The ornamental and contriving element of the folk style is very minutely woven into the patterns of her canvas. But whatever the case may be, originality and natural charm is always present in her creations. Jayasri Burman`s paintings never face the lack of sophistication. These qualities of her creation are considered exclusively her own.
Women are the main theme of Jayasri Burman`s paintings. They have always been given a significant place in her creations. She is not a feminist, but has always attempted to see the women content in various aspects of life. Her women are `free and at one with Nature, sometimes they are a coronated ceremonial bird, and at others, a mother Goddess or a creature of the woods`. Her works also expresses her intimacy with nature. Through her paintings, the lush green environs, the crossbred imagery of a woman, the moribund pools that divulge the flamed colours of "Basant" (spring) are reinterpreted. The image of woman in her painting is more bird-like in her poise and form.
The body of work of Jayasri Burman brings out an unconscious debarred energy that can be found in the surroundings of Shantiniketan, from where she has obtained her finest skills in painting. `The dance of colour` is her current vehicle of expression. The responsible factor behind this grace is the development of her maturity and her own satisfaction with life. What she had benefitted then has helped her to respond to the wide-ranging facets of Indian culture- this new kind of Nature has enthused the artist to direct her eye upon the paint.
Red, blue or radiant saffron are the colours frequently used by Jayasri Burman. Her works can be seen as `commitment to an art that is derived from the experience of the landscape - it is more than a matter of seeing things afresh - it is the perception that is aware of the transience and mutability of landscape`. Her works depict closeness in every sphere, sometimes it admits the viewers and they started realising themselves to be a part of it. One step into the world of Jayasri Burman`s work, and one becomes stimulant in responding to the nonconformist canons of beauty and partake of the choreography of Nature. She has won several prizes for her art works. In 1987, she received Certificate of Merit, All India Youth Art Exhibition; in 1985 she was awarded the National Award. In 1979 Burman was felicitated by the College of Visual Arts in Tempera for Outstanding Merit in the Annual Exhibition.
She has exhibited her works in India, and overseas as well. In 2005, she organised an exhibition, namely "The Family" where she had exhibited paintings of her artist family members. Some notable exhibitions of Jayasri Burman are-- 2006 `Sacred Feminine`, Art Musings, Mumbai; 2005 Fairytales & Laments- The Mythology of Jayasri Burman, Arts India, Palo Alto; 2002 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore; 1997-99-2000 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi; 1992 Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai; 1985-90-92-96 Chitrakoot Gallery, Kolkata; 2006 The Indiart Show 2006, Lasalle - Sia, Singapore; 2005 `The Family` Art Musings, Mumbai; 2005, CIMA, Kolkata; 2004 `Shadanga` Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi; 2004 Visual Art Gallery, London; 2003 Workshop in Egypt with Indian Contemporary Artists by BAYAR ABS; 2001-02 Modi Foundation, London; 2001-02 `Bollywood Show`, Selfridges, London; 2001-02 Group Show of Bengal Art, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata; 2002 `The Family-3`, with Sakti Burman, Maya Burman, Jayasri Burman, Apparao Gallery, Chennai; 2001 `Indian Contemporary`, Hong Kong; 2001 `Indian Contemporary Fine Art`, Los Angeles, USA; 1999 `Emerging Trends`, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata; 1997 `Panchadashi`, Gallery La Mere, Kolkata; 1997 `The Best of Bengal from Independence to the Present`, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata; 1996 `Urban Signals, Shifting Images-II`, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai; 1994 Exhibition of paintings and Sculptures by Eminent Contemporary Artists, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata; 1993 `Life-Long`, Emerald Isle, Kolkata; 1992 `The Baijis`, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata; 1991 Annual Exhibition of Graphics, Paintings and Sculptures, Gallery BF-14, Kolkata; 1991 `A Tribute to Vincent Van Gogh`, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi; 1990 `Kolkata through the Eyes of Painters`, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata; 1989 `Young Faces in Contemporary Indian Art`, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata; 1999 `Summer Show by Contemporary Eminent Artists of Bengal`, Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata; 1984 Three Person Exhibition, Paris; 1987 International Triennale, Intergraphic, Germany; 1986 Bharat Bhavan Biennale, Bhopal; 1983-85 National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; 1983-85 National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Kolkata; 1983-85 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi.
