Art is something sacred. Learning art history in art school, I remember being fascinated by the curious minds that imprinted their hands in Cueva de las Manos in Argentina, or the curious forms of toys and utensils from the Indus Valley. This sacredness feels lost in this society.
The state in which our country is today, it feels like art and the curious mind is in danger. Curiosity has been squashed by the political agendas of the majority, rephrasing and reframing what our country has gone through. As an artist, I feel immense fear. This fear is exacerbated by the helplessness that I sometimes feel. That’s why, art. I want to encourage myself and you all to not only read about art, but make art. Make art alone, with friends and loved ones and even strangers. Talk about art, think about art, dream about art. Art can be an immense force, it can be the beacon of power, of hope and even rage, that can move more people than we think capable.
Art for Joy
[A series of doodles I made basis prompts from my followers. This exercise gives me an excuse to ask my friends about their funky fantasies' they want drawn]
Below is a cartoon character called Fido Dido - a long forgotten 7Up mascot - but someone whose picture sits on my desktop at all times. Why, you ask? Because one Sunday afternoon, as I was chilling at home - vibing to music and doodling away in my sketchbook - my Dad walks in and says I looked like Fido Dido. At my quizzical look of “Who’s that”, he enthusiastically pulled up this picture. A character I may have seen in my childhood appears on my Dad’s screen and I am delighted and surprised at the fact that THIS IS ME! I could not have been happier and so this guy stays as an icon my desktop at all times - reminding me of the cool guy that I am deep, deep down.
[Image Credit: Wikipedia]
Art for Rage
Art also continues to remind me that there’s a lot to be angry about. Lots to be changed. Artists are few of the first people to sense disruption and inequality and also few of the first to act against it.
Below is an artwork by Ai Weiwei - an artist I was introduced to when I was quite young. I have a very low-res print out of this exact artwork tacked up on my wall. I did not understand then, the depth of this work. But now, as I see India expanding and contracting against the rise of fascism and the illusion of utopia - I am forced to see what we’re losing.
Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn by Ai Weiwei [Image Credit: Ai Weiwei Studio via Google Arts and Culture]
Art for Curiosity
Another artwork that lies on my desktop is an image from the Hubble Telescope. This image is the ultimate reminder of the speck of my existence against the backdrop of this universe. There’s nothing like an image of a few galaxies to bring you down to earth and remind you of all the wonder that lies within.
[Image Credit: NASA, Hubble Telescope]
These are just a few of the artworks that I keep in my inventory for needy times. I want this space to be open to your art stories, and I’ll be sharing more of mine as well, so please feel free to share yours below, I would love to read them.
xoxo