What makes artists averse to experimentation?

The question to be asked is whether an intimate and almost inseparable identity with any particular subject matter can get detrimental to the interests and evolution of an artist - besides also perhaps being claustrophobic?

Taking a cue from this interesting point of view, Kishore Singh argues that artists are more than anything else meant to constantly re-invent themselves! However, when they become too strongly bound by an image or get identified with a particular series or style, they then end up coming back to that very subject or style, again and again!

He then goes on to add: “It’s true that artists often go, or even grow, beyond their initial string identities. However, their signature style again compels them to re-visit what tends to be their distinctive stamp: hence Krishen Khanna, who has painted a wide array of everyday subjects and characters, is extolled for hisfamous ‘ Bandwallah’ series, Atul Dodiya turns a chronicler of his city of Mumbai, and Thukral & Tagra, akin to travel agents, may often find themselves rooted in the peculiar universe of migrations.

Discussing pros and cons of getting identified with a particular subject or style, the art expert explains: ”This in part, might be a fascination with how something can be used to create multiple images, or to see how their own views might have changed — which is how Subodh Gupta constantly returns to his world of utensils, though, admittedly, with less success than before.
In this context, it is pertinent to note what Satish Gujral has stated.

According to the legendary artist, one’s style becomes one’s identity. However, it cannot and should not be stretched beyond a particular point. He reveals, “Novelty challenges the mind; it makes you think. One can discover new things every day, everywhere. The acceptance of one style only nudged me to find something I had not as yet experimented with, one that may refresh my excitement. Personal excitement is what I seek to get out of my creativity.”

Of course, this holds for most artists. Yet there may be certain compulsions that prevent them from doing so…