“THE BIRD”

Visual Analysis & Composition: In “THE BIRD” by Debojyoti Roy utilizes the unique properties of Nepali (Lokta) paper to create a background that feels ancient and earthy. The natural fibers of the paper absorbs the water colour unevenly, creating organic blooms and soft edges that mimic the atmosphere of the sky or the blur of motion.

The central figure—the bird—is likely rendered with a few decisive, gestural strokes of pastel. Unlike a realistic illustration, Roy captures the idea of the bird: the curve of a wing, the tilt of a head, or the sharp angle of a beak. The water colour provides the emotional landscape—perhaps soft blues and greys for the wind, or warm ochres for the earth below—while the pastel sits on top, adding definition and vibrant bursts of colour. The square format (51×51 cm) centres the subject, creating an intimate window into this moment of flight.

Historical Context of the Art Form:  This work represents a fusion of traditional materials and modern expressionism. Nepali Paper (Lokta) has been used for centuries in sacred Buddhist texts for its durability and resistance to insects. By using this archival material for contemporary abstract art, Roy bridges the gap between the sacred/traditional and the modern. The combination of Water colour and Pastel is a classic mixed-media technique where the water-based medium provides a luminous underpainting, and the dry pastel allows for mark-making and emphasis, a technique favoured by Impressionists like Degas to capture movement.

The Story of “THE BIRD”: We often look at birds, but rarely do we see their flight. We see the creature, not the freedom. “The Bird” is an attempt to paint the wind under the wings.

The story of this painting is one of release. The rough texture of the Nepali paper represents the harshness of the ground, the gravity that holds us down. The watercolor wash is the air—thin, breathable, and open. The bird itself is not detailed because it is moving too fast to be captured; it is a blur of energy and instinct. Debojyoti Roy invites the viewer to look at this piece and feel not the weight of the bird, but the weightlessness of the moment it leaves the branch.