by Diwan Manna
The global reach of the Internet increased access to art, and new digital means of communication have transformed the way we perceive, consume, and create art. The global incorporates elements from the vernacular and vice-versa, and the natural outcomes are influences and inspiration. Although there are no prescribed rules for viewing or reading works of art there are certain common ways and shared codes with which human beings view and make sense of what is being expressed by artists spanning civilisations, geographical regions, and cultures.
Among all the creative pursuits, visual and plastic arts, along with music are forms one can cherish with a fair degree of satisfaction, without formally learning the grammar of these disciplines. This could simply be because these art forms connect to the domain of the unsaid and realms of the subconscious, with the added possibility to transcend physical boundaries.
The argument I am trying to make is that the question of identity, language, religion, culture, country, race, etc. are paramount for knowing and understanding each other, but not at the cost of dividing humans into narrow sections. As such, the so-called liberal world and the much-maligned ‘other’ of dictatorial and autocratic regimes are not helping the world become an easy place to live in. Humanity is faced with multiple challenges staring at us day in and out.
Art has the power to restore and redeem the love, affection, accommodation, and respect that we have lost for each other, therefore making it more pertinent that artists be conscious, vigilant, resilient, and proactive all the time. Arts have the capacity to interact, understand, perceive, emote, express, negotiate, and bond without necessarily knowing the language the other speaks or the region, religion, or country one comes from. The experiential value of visual arts and music is beyond verbal expression.
Here, I would like to shift your focus to another unavoidable discussion – the current curatorial practices. Almost every curator asks an artist to write an essay or note on her/his artistic practice, which for many is not a comfortable exercise. There are artists who are well-versed with the spoken and written word, but there are many others who would rather go by their intuitive impulses rather than approach their practice like that of an academician. It, of course, is debatable whether a written note by the artist helps the viewer in connecting with the works of art or it rather becomes a hindrance in the natural flow of emotions that this unique and one of the oldest ways of human creative endeavours, is capable of.
We have come to you after a gap of three years because of the unprecedented and dark period that the human race encountered because of the pandemic. The trials and tribulations continue, and we move on knowing that we humans have the resilience, desire, power, and foresight to overcome all impediments in our resolve to live a life that is complete and fulfilled.
Warmly
Diwan Manna
President
Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi
September 2022