“DUALITY”

Visual Analysis & Composition: In “DUALITY“, Debajyoti Roy utilises the generous dimensions of the canvas to stage a battle of contrasts. The composition is likely divided—either sharply down the centre or through a complex interlocking of forms—representing two competing energies. One side (or layer) of the painting is anchored by heavy, opaque acrylic applications—perhaps in deep, absorbing shades like midnight blue or charcoal. This represents the “Substantive”—the unmovable reality, heavy and solid. The opposing force is rendered in frantic, energetic pastel strokes—lighter, sketchier, and vibrant. These pastel marks sit atop the acrylic, creating a sense of vibration and impermanence. The friction between the wet medium (acrylic) drying into a solid film and the dry medium (pastel) remaining dusty and fragile physically manifests the concept of duality: the permanent versus the ephemeral.

Historical Context of the Art Form: This work draws from the philosophical tradition of Dualism in art, a concept explored by artists ranging from the Renaissance (light vs. shadow, or chiaroscuro) to the modern era (order vs. chaos). Roy’s specific technique aligns with Post-Painterly Abstraction, where the focus is on the interaction of materials. The use of mixed media here is not just aesthetic but symbolic; the “marriage” of incompatible materials (plastic-based acrylic vs. chalk-based pastel) reflects the difficulty of reconciling two sides of human nature.

The Story of “DUALITY” : We are never just one thing. We are the calm and the storm, the silence and the scream. “DUALITY” is the portrait of that internal split.

The story of this painting is the story of a decision. Imagine standing at a crossroads where two versions of your life diverge. The heavy, dark side of the canvas represents the path of duty, of gravity, of the known world that holds us down. The lighter, scribbled side represents the path of desire, of flight, of the chaotic unknown. They push against each other, neither willing to yield. Debajyoti Roy captures the moment of tension before the choice is made. He shows us that harmony isn’t about choosing one side over the other, but about allowing both to exist on the same canvas without destroying each other.