Bio
Debanjaly Sen is a contemporary artist whose work traverses the path of contemporary and visual art in the realm of cultural and personal identity. Debanjaly Sen works between Indian and USA. She explored complicated themes on gender and identity where she bridged the gap between Eastern and western art forms through her bold topics and gritty brush strokes. She is currently pursuing her third year of a Master in Fine Arts degree from University of Alabama. Debanjaly previously earned her MFA degree from Sister Nivedita University, India where she received and was supported by the highly prestigious Chancellor's Merit Scholarship.
Since beginning her artistic journey, Debanjaly has showcased her art in several high-profile exhibitions in Kolkata, India including the KCC AMI Art Festival, Rabindra Bharati University Annual Art Exhibition, ICAD Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts Annual Exhibition, and GSP Gallery to name a few. She moved to the United States in 2022 to delve deeper into the annals of western contemporary art form which has been a highlight of her recent works. Her most recent works were exhibited in her MA Thesis exhibitions in the esteemed Sella Granat Art Gallery in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she received many accolades. Apart from this, Debanjaly's work has been included in numerous significant exhibitions, such as the Southern Studies Conference at Auburn University at Montgomery, Prototype at Studio 2500 Gallery in Birmingham, and the Susan N. McCollough Fine Arts Initiative at The University of Alabama Gallery. In addition to her exhibitions, Debanjaly’s work has been published in Collect Art’s 101 Contemporary Artists and More, vol. 3. She currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she remains dedicated to advancing her artistic indulgence and engaging with the fine arts community in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Artist Statement
Women are the protagonists in my work, which explores themes of gender, identity, and the objectification of the female body. Through my work, I aim to portray a fragmented female form that exudes sublimity, challenges objectification, and embodies empowerment. By doing so, I reject societal prejudices against femininity and strive to present an authentic depiction of the female form, emphasizing the psychological and emotional depth of self-awareness through intricate postures, distortion, and fragmentation.
My process is as important as the outcome. I often incorporate vibrant colors, particularly dominant red hues, which symbolize energy and the expression of powerful emotions. Layering, gestural mark-making, and digging onto the surface are integral parts of my work that reveal the play between the inner self and the physical body (after interaction with external force). I manipulate the surface, colors, and textures to create a harsh and complex ground that suggests the violence (both somatic and psychic) often experienced by women. A variety of staining techniques are utilized for both their formal properties and more importantly, as indexical suggestions of bodily processes and the residue of implied violence. Leaving stains on the surface represents the enduring effects of memories on the mind.
The human body is like a container that holds all lived experiences, leaving their marks. These marks can pile up in the psychological sphere through society-imposed constrictions, limits, or boundaries on women, such as prescribed dress codes or behavioral expectations. These expectations of maintaining gender roles can develop feelings of suffocation, leading to a relationship with collective memories and embodied experiences that cannot be erased. My work is an attempt to echo these shared gender-specific experiences and explore the interplay of women’s physicality, mental states, and identity to challenge conventions and present empowering perspectives that redefine the narratives surrounding the female body.