The Art by Dr Ved Prakash Bhardwaj - HTML preview

The Art

demonstrates how poetry can become a visual

critically with the changing urban environment

and intellectual resource. By placing Kabir at

and the social and political realities embedded

the centre of his artistic inquiry, Sheikh reflects within the modern city. These works transform

on non-violence, communal harmony, pluralism,

the city from a mere physical setting into a

and the syncretic traditions of the Indian complex metaphor for power, alienation, memory, subcontinent. His work suggests that cultural commerce, and human relationships. Decades

memory can provide not only a connection with

later, Ahmedabad—The City Gandhi Left Behind

the past but also a means of responding to urgent (2015–16) extends this engagement with the

contemporary questions.

city, bringing together history, memory, political A wide variety of media has enabled Sheikh

reflection, and the continuing relevance of

to investigate both material and subject matter.

Gandhi’s legacy. The work demonstrates Sheikh’s

His practice includes watercolour, gouache, oil

ability to connect a specific geographical place painting, drawing, printmaking, paper collage,

with broader questions concerning history,

digital collage, artist’s books, ceramics, and large-identity, violence, and social change.

scale installations. This diversity is not simply Storytelling occupies an equally important

a matter of experimentation with materials; it

position in Sheikh’s practice. His Kaavad and

is closely connected to his search for the most

accordion books demonstrate his sustained

appropriate form through which an idea can be

interest in traditional Indian narrative forms and communicated. Consequently, he has produced

their potential for contemporary reinterpretation.

both intensely coloured works and powerful The Kaavad, with its multiple panels, black-and-white compositions. The choice of compartments, and unfolding narrative structure, medium, colour, or technique is secondary to the becomes in Sheikh’s hands a complex visual and clarity, force, and resonance of the expression.

spatial device. Similarly, the accordion book allows Several major works demonstrate the images and stories to unfold sequentially while breadth of these concerns. Speechless City simultaneously creating relationships between (1975) and City for Sale (1981–84) engage different moments, places, and memories. These 39