Mahatma Gandhi’s life and thoughts continue to influence the domain of art

Several Indian contemporary artists, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s life and thoughts, have been prompted to creatively analyze his contribution to the country's Independence movement and to contemporary society.

Among the many noteworthy contemporary names, deeply touched by Gandhiji’s message is that of artist Jitish Kallat. His ‘Public Notice 2’ recalls the Mahatma’s historic speech on the eve of the epic Salt March. In it, the fervent speech is dissected and recreated as a thought-provoking installation at a key point in India’s history through some 4,500 bone-shaped letters.

On the other hand, ‘White Ghost and Red Carpet’ by Bose Krishnamachari as part of his solo in Dubai last year was sort of a re-presentation. The artist was quoted as saying: “With small scale wars and calamities as the backdrop, every leader today is trying to tell things to people. One can hear the cacophony of statements by the world leaders in this sculptural installation. Mahatma Gandhi is a metaphorical expression of the artist’s own self in a diminutive form, against Gandhiji’s monumental portrait.”

Among the younger-generation artists, Hindol Brahmbhatt has worked on several diptychs and triptychs that locate the relevance of the Father of the Nation and his philosophy in current context. He is pained by hollowness that surrounds the ritual of remembering the Mahatma. Several of his creations juxtapose images of war, violence and strife with the Mahatma pushed to the background that heightens the sense of irony.

Last year, ‘Who has seen Gandhi?’ courtesy Tangerine Art, Bangalore at Gallery Kynkyny posed a question whether he was a pedestalized icon? An untouchable myth or a father who has been disowned, but celebrated through sterile ritual references by the state?

In similar such artistic initiative, A group show, ‘Detour’, courtesy Mumbai based Chemould Prescott a couple of years ago, featured photographers Ravi Agarwal, Sonia Jabbar, Samar Jodha, Dayanita Singh and Ram Rahman whose work revolved around Gandhi’s movement for freedom. It commemorated the centennial of his seminal work ‘Hind Swaraj’ (1909).