TEXT AS TEXT PART I
Shubhalakshmi Shukla

Written and readable text has been of interest to artists from diverse cultures since the decade of 1960’s. While the twenty first century’s world’s spectacle occupies art works which are spectacular, artists who work with text have voiced out simple and deep insights, caring for text as material. This makes text as an alternative expression in contemporary times.

Yoko Ono’s celebrated work “Listen to sound of the earth turning” or “Yes” and Barbara Kruger’s “I buy therefore I am” have explored listening deep of their cultures. Addressing diverse idioms during their times these artists created critical planes of art practice. Jenny Holzer’s truisms explored the dimensions of femininity while reflecting upon the city’s fabric in “I feel you” and “No one owns me”.

Text is often employed as a material for making art-works by feminists. Anita Dube’s artistic oeuvre with text based works explores a journey with “language” like a weaving that unveils the poignant paradoxes of human life. Text based art works often create therapeutic and cathartic experiences that make human life possible with effortless search for wisdom.

In this context, I would like to invite text based works from Rajesh Pullarwar, Kiyomi Talaulicar, Sanjeev Sonpimpare, Jyotee, Sarita Chouhan, Anjana Mehra, Kim-Kyoung-ae, Pankaj Khalode, Mithu Joardar and Lalit Patil around the current experiences or cultural poignancies. Their works may raise issues from personal to political or vice versa. Each artist will participate with four art-works. Maximum size 4ft by 4ft.