What does it mean to be poor? The question has been raised and tried to be defined by many economists & intellectuals in different forums, but if you ask the poor to define to ‘poverty’, their definition will go beyond the need and want of the material possessions.
My sequence of paintings (Medium-water colour) is an attempt to highlight violence of different nature, which doesn’t even look like violence, when looked through the lenses of culture, caste, class, economical-status etc.
When we talk about violence, most of the images are a depiction of bloodshed or something very gruesome. However, through my painting, I wanted to show that violence starts from the point of being indifferent in our own hearts.
This then leads to action where we think that it’s ‘ok’ to treat someone with contempt and with no dignity.
When the above action is overlooked by the civil society, and the law enforcement agencies and the justice system are silent, the seed of crime gets further deep-rooted and later gives birth to impunity.
By the end, I have tried to present the ‘antidote’ that can break the culture of impunity. That antidote is to come out of our indifference and silence, and to start engaging with the issue as a civil society, with law enforcement agencies, and with the justice system.
Every Face Tells a Story: “Sweat and Blood”
“The cry of the poor is not always just, but if you don’t listen to it, you will never know what justice is.” ― Howard Zinn.
“Sweat and Blood” tries to depict a society where the poorest of the poor live under a constant threat of violence. Their dignity has been snatched by the powerful through violence. Law enforcement agencies and justice system are indifferent to their cries.
-Size-22 x 29.5 inch
The Cost of Poverty: “Wishy-Washy Promises”
The poor hangs on to the promises the rich never keeps.
“Wishy Washy Promises” tries to depict a common scenario, where a poor girl is being taken advantage of, and is being exploited, because of her poverty. This may not look like a crime at this moment, but it surely implies the conception of the idea of impunity in one’s heart. The reason I have painted this subject is because when it comes to our personal needs, we become the exploiter in the painting and we try to overlook our own shortcomings.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
Making a Living or Breaking the Living: “Stench of Inhumanity”
Some times we just get used to seeing inhuman practices around us and instead of making an intervention, we prefer an ‘awkward silence’. We may also tend to think that if they won’t, then who will? But the point is not the kind of work they are engaged in. The question that we must all ask is: can they have better means to do the same kind of work?
“Stench of Inhumanity” tries to depict the sad state of our hearts, where we are indifferent to the condition of those ‘lesser’ than us. If the state of our heart stays indifferent, then we are just indirectly contributing to the ‘Stench of Inhumanity’.
– Size-14 x 19 inch
“Just Another Brick on the Wall”
The unceasing demand of the rich to produce more wealth, causes the poor to provide for the rich, by breaking their own backs and involves their coming generation to do the same.
“Just Another Brick on the Wall” tries to depict the hidden nature of violence that may not surface out so providentially, but has ripped apart poor families and those who are not able to withstand the exploitation of their masters for cheap labor. Eventually their very existence weighs lesser than a single piece of brick.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
A Sequence of Violence: “Dangerous Liaisons”
Each ‘awkward silence’ and each opportunity missed to ‘intervene’ on behalf of the poor and marginalized victims of violence, gives birth to a culture of impunity.
“Dangerous liaisons” tries to depict the culture of impunity, where the poor due to their poverty, are susceptible to violence. His situation does not make a difference to the rest of the world, no one cares whether he lives or dies. Access to justice is no more accessible.
Size-14 x 19 inch
What Lies Beneath: “Coal Truth”
The culture of ‘Impunity’ derives its strength from the ‘silence’ of those who can ‘intervene’ when there’s injustice. The poor in their state of utter weakness lose all ‘hope’ for freedom and what remains with them is the ‘Coal Truth’, which is that there is no ‘hope’ for them at all.
“Coal Truth” tries to depict the expression of hopelessness this poor child reflects in her expression. She does not have a vision of a hopeful future. She is unable to ‘dream’.
–Size-14 x 19 inch
Invisible Crimes: “When the Skies are Black”
The culture of ‘impunity’ assisted by violence can even cripple a strong man from within. You may not see the physical chain that binds him in this dark pit, but it is the chain of ‘fear’ that has gripped his soul from within.
“When the Skies are Black” tries to depict how poverty can cripple even a strong man, and make him a senseless individual without any hope & dreams.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
“Weighed Down by Waiting”
A poor woman is laden not only by the physical weight of the stone, but by the lies spoken in her life each day by her master from the day she enters bondage through deceit.
‘Weighed Down by Waiting’ tries to depict life spent with the weight of lies that never seems to lighten up.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
“Tipping point”
When the crime is not recognized or identified during its germinating stage, the powerful oppressors thrive in this environment of impunity. Then the powerful, through the means of violence, will not only engage one member of the family, but the whole ‘generation’ becomes part of their deceitful schemes.
“Tipping point” tries to depict the audacity of the powerful exploiters to exploit not a few poor individuals, but masses of people in poverty, and eventually the whole generation under their clutches. This situation arises when the civil society, enforcement agencies and the justice system remains silent.
– Size-14 x 19 inch
Her eyes, her clenched fist and her body posture is trying to communicate something. But unfortunately, she is overpowered by the strong hand of her oppressor. I would like to reiterate a sentences from my previous chapter: “Each ‘awkward silence’ and each opportunity missed to ‘intervene’ on behalf of the poor and marginalized victim of violence, gives birth to a culture of impunity.”
“The Sound of Silence” tries to depict the outcome of the deaf and the blind system of law enforcement agencies, justice system and civil society.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
“My Pleasure, Your Pain”
At the heightened state of impunity, the oppressors make use of the helplessness of this girl that is evident in her state of her poverty. The poor girl is completely numb to the mutilation of her flesh. The spirit is broken, and her hope is shattered.
“My Pleasure, Your Pain” tries to depict the audacious nature of an oppressor to senselessly violate and mutilate the poor for their pleasure and gain.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
Justice and Freedom is surely a far cry for the poor, but it is also not impossible to bring about the wind of change. But the new dawn will only break when we break our ‘awkward silence’ and start ‘intervening’ to protect the poor from violence.
“Walking Towards a New Dawn” tries to depict the joy of freedom that was once snatched from them through violence and deceit.
-Size-14 x 19 inch
The happiness quotient of the nation cannot be measured only by summing up the wealth of the nation, but it also needs to be measured by the state of happiness of our marginalized and poor communities.
“Waking Towards a New Dawn” tries to depict the ‘antidote’ that can break the culture of impunity, where the mutilators of flesh, exploiters and oppressors are dealt with severely, and rightly so.
-Size-22 x 29.5 inch