Biren De (1926–2011) was an Indian painter of modern art, known for his paintings with tantric influences.^[1] His paintings were characterized by symmetrical patterns of geometry and the presence of tantric symbols such as mandala, phallus and vagina, reportedly representing masculine and feminine energies of the universe.^[2] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 1992.^[3]

Biography

Biren De was born in Faridpur, in the Bengal Presidency (now Bangladesh) on 8 October 1926.^[4] He relocated to Kolkata along with his family and joined the Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata in 1944 for his graduate studies but did not accept the graduate diploma, citing a rift with the then college principal.^[2] He moved to New Delhi in 1949 when he was commissioned for a mural at the University of Delhi.^[2] His first overseas exhibition was held at Salon de Mai, Paris, in 1951.^[5] Returning to India, he joined the College of Art, Delhi, in 1952, as a member of their faculty and stayed at the job till 1963.^[4]

During his tenure at the College of Art, he spent one year in New York, on a Fulbright Scholarship. It was after this period, his paintings started to depict tantric symbols.^[2] In 1966, his works were exhibited at the Kumar's Gallery, New Delhi and Hayward Gallery, London.^[2] His works have since been displayed at several places including National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Berlin State Museum and the National Gallery, Prague, Royal Academy of Arts, London, Tokyo festival of India of 1988, and at the biennales in Venice, Tokyo, São Paulo, Mainichi and Sydney.^[1][5]

De received the Lalit Kala Akademi National Award in 1958 which he received a second time in 1964.^[4] The Government of India included him in the Republic Day honours list for the civilian award of the Padma Shri in 1992. He was elected as the Fellow of Lalit Kala Akademi in 2006.^[6] He died on 12 March 2011, at the age of 84.^[4]

Exhibitions

List of selected exhibitions:^[7]