Colours of concern
RANA SIDDIQUIRANA SIDDIQUI
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B.V. Suresh's exhibition is a reminder of the Gujarat violence and the Best Bakery case.
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At a time when the whole nation is in the festive mood, there is an artist, B.V. Suresh who has mounted an exhibition at the Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi to give a voice in his own way to the victims of the 2002 Gujarat violence. The exhibition titled Facilitating The Beast positions itself on post-2002 Gujarat through a series of paintings and installations (video show) called Retakes of Shadow.
"Forgetting the Gujarat episode and the Best Bakery case is not possible, especially for those who have witnessed them. I find a general remorse in the society now. The people of Gujarat have faced so much that they have almost become detached to any hostility in any part of the society. I have spoken to many directly and indirectly affected people post these two tragedies. They are in a dilemma. They seem lost while talking. If anyone is suffering anywhere in the world for whatever reason, they just sound indifferent about it. Not only is it worrying but also scary. We as a nation are falling apart," says a concerned Suresh, a senior lecturer of painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S University, Baroda.
An amalgam
An amalgam of a music sound piece, mixed media prints and 50 bread loaves alluding to the Best Bakery case is what forms `Shifting Shadows', his video installation. One of his digitally-printed and framed prints on which "Sabarmati Express" is legible, also forms a part of the message.
To give a holistic impression he uses sounds of a train. He re-stations this imagery with the pictures of Bharatmata and Saraswati etc., for a contrasting effect. "Values are changing. On one hand we worship the goddesses and on the other, we molest the women folk of the country. I also fail to understand the banning of the film `Fanaah' in Gujarat. What are we trying to prove?" Suresh's concern also shows in the images of a boyplaying cricket followed by his transformation into a gun-toting man.
Few people understand new media art and fewer who can view such exhibitions. To facilitate understanding, Suresh uses familiar images. "Since it is comparatively a new language in art, I try to draw images from popular culture. Like if the new visitors see loaves of bread or read prints like Sabarmati Express, they can relate to them," concludes Suresh.
The exhibition is on view throughout October.
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