http://www.mutualart.com/OpenArticle/Indian-Art-on-the-Rise/6980C6BAE84E230F?promo=c35e0524722a8338
What to expect next out of Indian art.
This article talks about the changing of art in India. It focuses largely on one piece by Bharti Kher, The Skin Speaks a Language Not It's Own. This piece has several theories behind it. It is a life size female elephant that is covered in bindis. A bindi is a decoration that was formerly used to signify the age, marital status, or the religious background of girls and women. The artist is letting the viewer decide what the elephant represents. The first theory is that the elephant represents the conflict of tradition and the modern times. And the elephant that is sleeping is being taken over by the bindis or being given power by them, representing either the masses of India turning toward religion and traditions, or turning away from them. I believe that these are both very compelling representations. I think that maybe the elephant is dying, and the movement in the piece is the elephant fighting trying to get up. I do agree the elephant represents India, and the bindis represent the population of India. However I don't think the bindi represent just tradition or just modern times approaching. I think the bindis are a mixture of the two. I think that in more recent times people have been trying to bring out their native traditions and cultural heritage, but there are still those that want to make things more modern and until we figure out a middle ground we can not rest peacefully.
i thought this article was very interesting. I don't know exactly which way to look at the elephant. It interesting reading what people thought it symbolized. I also think bindi is really cool.
ReplyDeleteGreat article, the elephant is remarkable. the artist put a lot of work into it. Many people have different approaches to what the elephant could mean. In a way, Indians are is unique. to me the elephant is passing away slowly and painfully. The bindi look good, but i am indifferent about what they mean. the can be just a texture or stand for something extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteIndia is a very contradicting and changing country. The elephant does look like it is struggling to get it, it could be the result of the growing pains and loss of traditions associated with westernization.
ReplyDeleteI like how you chose a more international article. I do think it is interesting that Indian art, patterns, and furniture have started to take over even American stores and galleries and I'd like to see just how big it gets and if it ends up surpassing the impact chinese art had on the world.
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