Forces Against Nature

A large,almost disturbingly violent work,shows some people scattered around on the ground,while some others stand with guns in their hands,wearing helmets,presumably engaged in a battle.

A large,almost disturbingly violent work,shows some people scattered around on the ground,while some others stand with guns in their hands,wearing helmets,presumably engaged in a battle. Little notes on the painting explain the scene. During the Vietnam War,they tell us,nearly five million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange the code name for a herbicide and defoliant that was used in the herbicidal warfare programme during the war. Close to 4,00,000 people were killed by this and another 5,00,000 children were born with defects.

This work titled Dont you have a kingdom to run? much like a number of others currently on display at Sakshi Gallery,Colaba,for Gipin Vargheses solo debut seems to draw from socially relevant topics. For instance,another set of works titled I hate what Ive become from afar appear to resemble lush fields and a lake,but up-close,present a different picture altogether. The plants seem to be confined to greenhouses,and men walk amongst them spraying what we imagine to be pesticide.

In another that might easily be one of the most disturbing works in the show,men walk about among slain elephants,and in their hands are tusks collected from these creatures. One cant help but ponder over the satire in a title that reads The only good non-human is a dead non-human.

Born and raised in Kerala,nature was always a part of Vargheses early life. Interactions with wildlife photographers,ecologists and bird-watchers only made the influence even more pronounced that in turn finds representation in his art. Researching events like Vietnam War and the Bhopal gas tragedy,however,have made his work more sombre. I think of the attitude of the state towards common people and the ecosystem and I paint to study the issues that trouble me, explains Varghese.

The people and animals related to nature are wiped out without compassion by those in power, adds the artist.

While the subject of his art is without doubt captivating,his style in itself is equally so. The first thing that is likely to come to mind when looking at his work are cave paintings and folk art. People,animals and trees the three elements that make up a majority of his works are painted in a style reminiscent of Indian folk art. I was always amused by the spontaneous,organic,interrelated drawings seen in folk and mural forms, he says.

While people normally imitate the outer structure of folk art and fail to incorporate the language with their experiences,Im using this language to show the stand Im taking in the world, he says.

The works are on display till May 25

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