Trupti Patel’s solo at Gallerie Alternatives

In a statement to her new solo show at at Gallerie Alternatives, artist Trupti Patel writes: “To express is a basic human need, fulfilling a desire to communicate. In the arts, the medium of clay has been a basic material used universally in all cultures all over the world.

It is so various and adaptable that each culture and each succeeding generation finds in it a new means of expression. In the course of contemporary art practice, the potent symbolism of using clay has been of my interest, particularly in addressing issues that are relevant today.

In this work I want to present the premise of making art with public participation from all walks of life, coming together to make a collective expression, affirming to their belief in existence of unity in diversity. A ball of clay is to be offered to each willing participant who in enclosing into a fist ends up creating an impression of the enclosed palm as their own identity.

Everyone is able to make the shapes as they are guided by their own action and their palms act as individual moulds, requiring no skill of `art making` techniques. Authentically, the clay ball picks out their individual fine lines in the making. A signature is taken separately on paper along with their occupation and place of origin details to record and acknowledge in making of the work.

These fist pebbles are to be collected in the course of the year (initiated August 2010), fired in kilns to stoneware temperatures and eventually displayed/expressed as a riverbed.( November 2011, Gallerie Alternatives, Gurgaon). Seeking participation from the non-artist’ in her artistic realm, the artist hopes it will add to appreciation or wider understanding of non-representational work.

She asks: “Will the use of a ‘traditional’ material like clay transcend barriers and association to function and craft and be applauded its legitimate contemporaneity of expression? Will it dialogue on the issues of skill required or hired in making art today? Most importantly, what is the purpose of art making today if it is not understood by the common man even though it may be aptly speaking of Him?”

Will it make a difference to reach out in the making of this work? Beggaring focus on the increasing intolerance today in our society, fragmented by discrimination, race, regionalism, gender, caste, class, color, creed, greed……… Is Unity in society water under the bridge?"She wants to know.

(Information and image courtesy: Gallerie Alternatives)