Rahul Basu (b. Kolkata, India, 2000) is an artist whose practice critiques urban growth, environmental degradation, and social divides shaped by capitalist ideals. Currently an MFA candidate at UCSD, his art carries strong social and ecological commentary on the rapid urban sprawl reshaping Indian cities today. He employs a mixed media and research-based approach to uncover overlooked narratives of development within cities. Rahul’s work draws from the everyday life and colonial history of Kolkata, reflecting on its rich culture and stark class disparities.

Growing up in Kolkata, India, I’ve always seen art as a tool to interact with the changing culture and landscapes of an urbanizing world. The city’s constant construction—scaffolding, dust, and pollution—symbolizes the rapid economic growth India has experienced over the last two decades. Yet, this urban sprawl raises critical questions about the impact on both natural ecosystems and social structures shaped by colonial histories and Western capitalism.

My art documents and internalizes these shifts, using Kolkata as a lens to explore global issues like environmental degradation, sea level rise, and socio-economic disparities. The pressing reality of rising waters threatens Kolkata and neighboring Bangladesh, but I’m often struck by how little this registers in daily life. My work serves as a visual harbinger, conveying the looming disasters we all face—from climate change to refugee crises—and bringing these issues to the forefront, both locally and globally.

Influenced by Bengal’s traditions of woodblock printing, folk painting, and clay sculpture, I merge these generational art forms with contemporary techniques. I layer media and ideas to communicate complexity, using vivid neon colors to reflect the omnipresent billboards, and earthy tones to echo the rice paddies and brick mills. Eyes, inspired by the goddess Durga, feature prominently in my work to evoke connection and presence, drawing viewers into the themes of the piece.

My practice is grounded in research and personal experience. I visit areas in and around Kolkata to document images and speak with residents, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Sundarbans, where the impacts of climate change are immediate. Works like নদী ভরা ঢেউ (River Full of Waves) (2022) draw on these experiences, using the submersion of Durga into the Ganges as a metaphor for the pollution and urbanization encroaching on the natural world.

Ultimately, my art amplifies the stories of the marginalized—those most affected by urbanization, environmental change, and rising waters. Through interdisciplinary forms, I aim to communicate these complex realities to a broader audience, transcending barriers of language, class, and education.

EXHIBITIONS~

KANG X BASU, Gallery ABBA, Beloit WI 2023

YOU MUST BE THIS TALL, Wright Museum of Art, Beloit, WI 2023

DICHOTOMY OF SUCCESS, Commons Gallery, La Jolla, CA 2024

INLET/OUTLET, Main Gallery, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 2024

GROUNDING SPACE, MCAD, Minneapolis, MN 2024

THE MFA’S OF LA, Good Mother Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2024