Gunjan Shrivastava
What does the pandemic mean for an artist in India today?'Survive, evolve, and thrive' has been the mantra of the last few years, and never has it been more evident than in the world of art. Given the expansive nature of the creative spectrum in India, the art industry has painstakingly tried to build and create an ecosystem that nurtured talent and inspiration. From galleries, studios, creators, curators, and the likes, recognition has always been the ultimate goal and an arduous task at that. The ‘starving artist' was never just a moniker, but a written description of the economic uncertainty and challenging circumstances that come with being an artist. So when the pandemic arrived in all its disruptive glory – the art world was shaken and forced yet again to refocus and rebuild. In the face of adversity and these challenging times, grit and agility were the need of the hour, and artists, as well as the art community, rose to the occasion. But in this new normal, what could artists look forward to? Going digital was no longer an option but a means of self-preservation. And while the beginning of this change seemed uncomfortable, what it did do was, introduce unique opportunities for the art community to interact, collaborate and create in newer, more engaging ways. Institutions, organizations, and gallerists have now turned to virtual galleries to spotlight new and upcoming talent, while artists use social media as a launchpad to present new collections. For artists that use performance as a form of expression, hybrid models that combines a physical stage with a virtual audience have helped in keeping the art alive and thriving. The digital debut of the critically acclaimed play Sea Wall by Simon Stephens, starring Jim Sarbh, proves just that. In fact, the digital revolution has broken down geographical boundaries and has given Indian artists the opportunity to present their work on a more global scale. The series of digital initiatives launched by the Serendipity Arts Foundation in 2020 are perfect examples of this shift and evolution. Furthermore, the pandemic has changed the narrative of expression and served almost as an inspiration to create for a lot of artists. Take, for example, Mumbai-based artist, Dhruvi Acharya who found solace in creating a series of watercolor on paper paintings that depicted the tremendous struggles of migrant workers, medics, and people in general, during the pandemic. In fact, this new normal even gave local artists an opportunity to showcase their skill and talent. Delhi's first street art gallery in the Lodhi Art District which was reserved and intended for international graffiti artists now adorns pandemic-themed murals created by local talent. Thus, raising the question, have we entered a new era of artistic expression?
With that said there are still a lot of development and preventive measures that need to be ushered in, in order to try and alleviate the impact of unforeseen events like COVID-19 on India's artists. India's creative economy continues to be significantly fragmented and while digital communities like the ArtX Company or C3 are working to bring some semblance of order, there needs to be an overall framework in place to support India's artistic community. The pandemic presented an almost dichotomous proposal to artists in India. It brought inconceivable havoc while also posing as a catalyst of incredible change and opportunity. On the one hand, artists had to face the loss of a sense of home, with galleries, studios, and theatres being shut down, but on the other, the digital realm opened up new possibilities, presented a gateway to a wider audience, and even in some instances ‘inspired'.
(The writer is a professional artist, educator and co-founder of You Lead India Foundation. The views expressed are personal.)
