WATER LESS EARTH

Title - Water Less Earth

Medium: Printmaking / Colour wood cut on paper

Size: 72 × 48 inches (6 × 4 ft)

Category: Contemporary Figurative

Artist bio

Titas Dalabehera is a contemporary printmaker and visual artist from Odisha. He completed his MVA from Utkal University of Culture, Bhubaneswar, and BVA from Government College of Art & Crafts, Khallikote, along with a Bachelor’s degree from Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Degree College, Ramagiri.

Working across printmaking and painting, his practice explores texture, repetition, and the relationship between form and memory. Inspired by nature and human presence, his works transform everyday visuals into quiet, contemplative compositions.

About the Artwork

Water Less Earth is a colour woodcut print that powerfully addresses the critical theme of water scarcity and its profound impact on both the environment and the human condition. The work of art depicts two men standing on a small, elevated, vibrant blue surface, which represents the last remaining source of water. They are surrounded by a vast expanse of cracked, dry earth, symbolizing widespread drought and environmental degradation. This stark contrast between the vivid blue ‘island’ and the barren landscape highlights the fragility and preciousness of water in an increasingly arid world.

The figures themselves are rendered with heightened expressions, conveying urgency and perhaps desperation or anxiety. One figure reaches out an exaggerated hand towards the viewer, seemingly appealing for help or emphasizing the immediacy of the crisis. The intense, illustrative style of the woodcut medium, which allows for strong lines and bold colour contrasts, enhances the dramatic impact of the scene. The visual perspective, looking down at the figures, makes them appear isolated and vulnerable within the overwhelming, hostile