The artist’s world is limitless. It can be found anywhere, far from where he lives or a few feet away. It is always on his doorstep,” said Paul Strand the famous American photographer who championed the cause of photography as an artform. Agreed. The art is never away from the artist and many a times the art is an extension of artist.
The philosophy of the artist, the ideas dear to him, they all crawl their way on to the canvas. The ongoing India Art Fair has many such works done by artists, who have used their canvases to comment on the happenings around them and also share their take on the socio–political themes prevalent in the world.
Titled The Golden Bowl by GR Iranna, the painting showcased at the Espace Gallery, is silent protest against violence. The horde of monks, clad in deep maroon march together with stoic determination. The bowl — the bhikshu patra, an inseparable commodity for the monks lies scattered.
Says Iranna, “The monks are the apostles of peace. They have the purity of soul that we cannot even try and emulate. They, for generations have spread the message of peace. But of late they have also been the victim of violence in Tibet and Myanmar, and that’s what I wanted to showcase in my work. Violence — in the name of religion, caste and in the name of God, should not be tolerated. My earlier works too reflect a similar strain of thought.”
Iranna’s installation of a red siren light, surrounded and trampled by the khadaun chappals, on the ground is again his way of showcasing that how people have suffered because of random acts of violence. As the light is silenced and the chappals lie unattended, the suffering continues. This installation was on display at the Guild Gallery.
Art reflects life, and life reflects art. The two can never be separated. Artists like Satish Gujral and Arpana Kaur have always stood apart for the many stands that their work makes.
The three paintings by TV Santhosh are sure to be noticed by every one. They stand tall, like an angel with her eyes bound. With a pitcher of bright red blood in the hands, which is shed, drunk and then offered in obeisance. Titled The Butterfly Effect, Wound That Never Heals and History Lessons they collectively speak volumes about what made him paint them.
Says Santhosh, “This is happening all around us, we look at the world today with the additions of tinted glasses of TV and news reports. They reveal the victims of mindless violence that make the headlines. It’s the smell and the taste of this present that I am dealing with, in my works. The art is a process to find a solution.”
While on one hand some choose to address the violence that surrounds us, on the other hand we have artists promoting peace through Mahatma Gandhi in their works.
Artist Viveek Sharma has over the years used the legendary figure in his works.
His works at the Art Fair — three paintings titled Non–Civil Disobediance, The Transparent Mahatma and Colourful Triumph, have the presence of Gandhi. “I relate to Gandhiji on so many levels. I feel, that I must have been there in my previous birth, marching with him during the freedom struggle,” says Sharma.
There is nothing more subjective than art in today’s world. From raging controversies to mild acceptance, art has always been a chosen vehicle to express many issues that require attention. It’s little wonder that artists have chosen their canvas to speak about things happening around. Hope the effect stays on.
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