Indian artists need to be politically expressive

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Parinatha

25 March, 2011

It is famously said that every good painter paints what he is. Art, if used politically and intelligently, by Indian painters, can bring them into the league of famous painters who used their thoughts to depict an event or happening.

INDIAN ART forms have always been associated with tradition and mythology. They all depict and exhibit versions of mythological stories or the faces of different Gods - as there are many.

Artists in India have most often than not conformed to traditional paintings depicting conventional ideologies and stereotypical behaviours rather than break away from societal norms and bring about a change. Indian art appears to be an escape from reality, be it in any form. Dances depict mythological stories, music is either in the praise of the lord or it is theme based and paintings again are those of many Gods.

In my opinion, artists in India should be more political and proactive for two main reasons:

1. Artists have a talent that requires a few minutes and not a thousand words to convey a message.

2. They are appreciated by many or at least a few therefore they are influential people

Elaborating on the first point, artists have a talent that is extremely effective, which is to convey a thousand words without having to give a speech. Artistic expression creates a larger impact on the brain as the viewer/listener is given his space to understand rather than to listen and immediately respond. They can say a thousand words without having to speak and that is magical. Thus, if artists question the existing norms, people will begin to understand their surroundings and make alterations if required.

The second reason why artists should be more political and questioning is because they are appreciated and have a certain reputation among the people. If these people associate with them; their ideas will gain importance in peoples’ minds and could spark off a change that enables create a better society.

Picasso is a good example to state my reasons as he started off as a conventional painter but gradually moved on to exhibit the harsh realities of life rather than paint the beauty of rich aristocrats. He has seen his art grow over time and his artistic expressions have led to our understanding of various facts without having to shed blood.

Artistic expression is the most peaceful method to critique the world we live in and also spark minds to think and question existing norms then why do artists have to exhibit only existing behaviours?

M.F Hussain is one of the few Indian artists who tries to express his opinions and perspectives through this paintings but India however does not seem to be welcoming it. A painting of the Bharat Mata as a nude created a lot of fury among many Indians.

However, I did not see anything derogatory or offensive to the country as the painting is his perception of the Bharat Mata and not an attack on the country or its image.

India needs artists who have the courage to break free from rituals and the humdrum of existing societal behaviour. Indian artists should be given a chance to express through their art their opinions and ideas. Contemporary dance form is a huge change in the field of dance as we have always known only classical dances.

However, since this particular style of dance is not politically disruptive it seems to have been accepted without much controversy.

Artists should be politically more active and argue against moral conventions as it is them who can initiate such reformations that benefit society. Pablo Picasso and Rembrandt have moved with time in terms of their paintings where they have married their art to reality rather than let it remain a mere escape from reality or just a form of entertainment.

Picasso’s “Guernica” speaks of the bombings that took place in Guernica and this painting tells us an epic. Rembrandt’s portraits have more than just a face to them. They have a certain depth in their expressions that clearly shows what they could be going through. This subtle portrayal of human experience gives the painting a psychological base which speaks not just for the painting but also for the painter.

Indian artists should therefore grow with their art. Their art should grow with time and if it does grow faster than time they should exhibit it without fearing the societal responses. Artists from all fields should be proud of their creations and should encourage the society to constantly reconsider its norms.

A question haunts me when I say all of the above, why is that most Indian temple walls are allowed to be decorated with sculptures of not just nude men and women but innumerable sexual figures while M.F Hussein is attacked for his painting of a nude woman?