What makes us what we are?

Nonika Singh

If man is a social animal, how can art not be connected to society. So, how can Manjot Kaur, a multidisciplinary artist of the city currently on Inlaks Shivdasani scholarship to Italy for an art residency programme be immune to social currents around her? Not surprising, her latest work, a two-day-long performance art piece, talked about Aadhar, the UID programme that has takers as well as baiters. Of course, when she decided to create an art work 20 by 12 feet set here at a shopping mall in Mohali, she was not taking sides. Donning a police uniform in dual shades, it probed into duality of the system, a live commentary. Like all her works this one too inquired into the politics of environment, identity and existence. 

Identity is a crucial aspect of her work with which she hopes to incite a discourse on social, cultural and personal issues, through careful representation of objects and narratives corresponding to the temporal and ephemeral reality of the being. However, she admits that in India the knowledge of art, is rather limited. Few understand performance art and most don’t go beyond the obvious nomenclature of art as landscapes/ abstract, etc. 

Why even as a student of Government College of Art, Chandigarh she was disappointed that teachers wouldn’t go beyond and the teaching of history of art almost stopped at 1950. Conceptual art, the idea and thought behind it were almost nonexistent.  Today as she is immersing herself at the University of Ideas run by renowned artist Michelangelo Pistello, she is all for art residencies. She who also participated in Khoj residency among others says, “Nothing opens your mind more than experiences like these where you soak in from other artists and their works.”  

As a teacher in government school where she is interacting with socially deprived kids, she understands not everyone can become an artist. But yes they can be sensitised towards art and she does it simply by giving them live demonstrations and painting in front of them. Art she insists can never be a forced activity, but boundaries are meant to be pushed.  Indeed, living in City Beautiful too, she feels one can touch the sky.  Besides, it’s here that she gets the real sense of her identity which anyway is the crux of her art. And as Bryant H McGill says, “All discomfort comes from suppressing your true identity,” hers lies in being rooted and seeking the moon from ground zero. 

The roadmap: Right now, I am busy documenting the dying cultures and submerging geographies for the coming generations.

As an agent of change: Through my work, I talk about concepts that connect humanity and make us humane. 

 My favourite artists: Top on the list is Sudarshan Shetty whose journey from painting to installation works to video works is truly inspirational and one I can relate to. Then I simply love the positive and fun vibes of Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra.  

nonikasingh@tribunemail.com