Written by Anisha Ghosh and Sambhabi Pandey
Subimal Das came to Kolkata 25 years ago, with nothing but a dream and a brush in hand. Today, Das stands tall as a renowned sculptor, the founder of Subi-Creative House, and an inspiration to countless young artists across the country.
Born in Contai, a rural subdivision of East Medinipur in West Bengal, Das had long dreamed of turning his passion for art into a career. As a teenager, he came to Kolkata with his elder brother and started his journey as a bus graffiti artist.
“During my childhood days, I used to sculpt idols of gods and goddesses. I was blessed with the inborn talent of sculpting and aspired to join an art college. In Kolkata, I worked at Shalimar as a bus graffiti artist. I used to move along with the brush as if I was not controlling the brush, but the brush was controlling me,” recalls Das.
Famous for sculpting idols for Durga Puja and museums, Das has gained recognition for reuniting people with their loved ones even after their demise through his hyper-realistic, life-size silicone sculptures.
“I have international clients as well. For the first time in my life, I will be exporting my art to the US. It is the sculpture of an actress who passed away recently. Her parents requested I make her sculpture,” Das said.
His creations grace some of India’s most renowned landmarks, such as the Khalsa Museum in Punjab, Science City Kolkata, Vidhan Sabha in Kolkata, and Mother’s Wax Museum in West Bengal.
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Das’s studio, Subi-Creative House, now has a team of more than 80 young artists and learners. They work together by mixing old traditional art styles with new creative ideas.
Looking ahead, Das envisions an innovative space that goes beyond traditional galleries. He is working on launching an art exhibition building near Chinarpark, Subi-India, which he fondly refers to as an “experience centre”. Rather than a conventional showroom, this centre will offer visitors an immersive journey through his creations. It aims to be a one-of-a-kind hub for art lovers, aspiring sculptors, and international buyers alike.