Outsider Art - Paintings and Commentary by C K Purandare

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Outsider Art - 2

Outsider Art 2 — Paintings and Commentary by C K Purandare

The paintings in the CD_ROM are not decorative. They depict the real world around us. An attempt is made to document collective miseries of people and investigate social pathology behind the misery. The dominant political discourse today is dictated by the state, market and media- none bothered about the weak.

The alternative to this discourse seems to drift towards being self-obsessed - hedonist, reclusive or esoteric. So there is a need to reiterate that hunger, poverty and violence still afflict a vast majority of humans in the world. The paintings endeavour to state this problem. They will have served their purpose if they make you pause and think.

So long as we got our games
In March 2008, the unrest in Tibet erupted against the Chinese occupation of more than 60 years. This was an inconvenient time for China with Olympics due later in the year. China wanted to show its modern and human-rights-respecting face to the world. The repression of the Tibetans evoked a world-wide protest. The painting shows the Chinese flag at the top. Under it is the Chinese wall with terracotta warriors on it.

So long as we got our games

The 'archer' from the army has killed a Buddhist lama. He can be seen lying at the bottom of the picture, facing us. Other terracotta warriors are celebrating lowering of the Tibetan flag and hoisting the Chinese flag on Potala Palace in Lhasa. Terracotta warriors are 2000 years old, and a Chinese national heritage. It means that the repressive nature of the regime is also that old. We also see the two scared lamas in the Potala palace in Lhasa. The rest of the world is not bothered. As long as we get our games on TVs at home to watch, we are not concerned about repression behind it.

Cry in the wilderness

Cry in the wilderness
Based on a reported quote of an ancient Indian seer - Vyasa. He is credited with writing our national epic - Mahabharata. This is something comparable with Iliad and Odyssey, only it is a much longer, in fact the longest epic in the world. It is said that there is no aspect of humanity in the world that is not covered in Mahabharata. After finishing it, Vyasa said - With arms raised I am crying hoarse, nobody listens to me.

The artist and his art

Some comments on his work

Your work is amazingly emotional. You seem to have set your sights on bringing awareness to human suffering, and have definitely opened my eyes and made me think... In your work, you show...that you can understand, and convey, human emotion in a way that needs to be seen.
— J. K., Artist, Canada

I want to tell you, you have very profound and skilful work. You are doing important work, your messages are thought- provoking, your colors are beautiful, your characters are expressive. Your paintings sing with life. Was very glad to have seen your work. — V. C., Artist, USA

Visual storytelling and cultural narrative in your work are fascinating. Your presentation is utilitarian, there is no ambiguity and the issues you tackle make uncomfortable viewing.
— Jayne Taylor, Social Worker, Glasgow, Scotland

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