Challenge 1
Nyra
Photography, Photomanipulation, Typography
Our society greatly influences us playing a major role in the people we become. India, my birth place and my home has exposed me to many such situations that have made me look eye to eye with my society. I have realised the most important thing overlooked in our society is the sheer epitome of hypocrisy.
With narrow crusted minds, echoing through the valley of destruction.
Lost souls screaming their hopeless dreams into an empty well of misguided fortune; scattered in the pieces of their own shattered hearts, and that is the beauty of our race.
It takes pride and burns with passion in the very flames that consume them but a faint voice echoes in the silence. The innocence and purity of this voice still leaving traces of faith, belief and hope but when the eyes emerge from the darkness they speak of desire and expectation.
Glaring through the eyes of innocence, lies the hypocrisy of our society.
I came to a stark observation 4 years ago when I started mentoring 8 underprivileged children in the discipline of martial arts. I noticed, parents who have so much to give their own children do not even spare a glance to those innocent souls who have been left with little hope, but still look at society for acceptance and self respect. Don't you think a child regardless of his background needs social welfare. Through their eyes I was exposed to this hypocrisy that lies blatantly in front of us but we turn our heads away from it.
The girl in the photo was clicked by me in Coorg, India. I digitally worked on the piece on Photoshop to create a visually compelling image as well as textual representation of the idea.
Challenge 2
War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength
Photography, Canon 700D
If you stop one heart from beating, you kill every soul on earth. If you stop one spirit from leaving, you save all of humanity from being buried in the dirt. If you kill a person, you kill a population, a nation every living thing in creation. All to find what? We seek to find peace in war where one nations hero become another's tormentor, but we profess yet again war is being fought to find peace.This hypocrisy of society seems to baffle me.
Home is where the heart is and my heart yearns to be free but yet again have we been subjected to slavery? Freedom has been granted but have we actually been liberated? Or do we still lie enslaved to our desires and needs? Ignorance is strength yet another hypocrisy. We need to understand that we were all are moulded from the same clay and will return on the same day but the deeds we leave behind and here to stay.
I have been inspired by the quote War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery and Ignorance Is Strength, deeply due to the nature of of the lines. It gives a great insight into the thoughts of our society which are casually overlooked today, the gas mask represents that bondage.
Challenge 3
Burning Reality
Collage
The Untold Story. We tend to find gratification in the glamour and buzz of day to day life, where television and media have told nothing but lies. We talk about equality but actually its a self fulfilling prophecy, yet again bringing out the epitome of hypocrisy.
Its time we see things differently. Its time we ask some questions, because burning through the paparazzi, child labour, hunger and poverty still exist. Each and everyday we talk about helping those in need, but our souls till date are merely filled with greed. So this brings me to the question, could we drop our precious comforts to renew faith in humanity? Or ,are we too perhaps flawed in the decisions we make.
In a country like mine, I see this paradox everyday of my life and I write this message myself but it applies to myself too. But, there is a difference! I am willing to make that change and have already taken journey on my visioned path. Just because you called someone blind doesn't give you vision, hence all I ask of you is to envision.
A day without food turns you savage, imagine all those children that feast from the garbage. No one deserves such a life! We profess equality and its high time we were the ones to make a change from the bondage of our hypocritical society.
The piece is entirely collage work with pictures of famous personalities. I have used the burning technique to showcase the underlying image of the children.
Tangles
Watercolour On Paper
"The truth is she was nothing but a painting on a torn canvas somewhere in my head, though how I wish she was more". In the calmness of your soul lies the chaos of mine. This piece depicts a love story from the girls side and how her thoughts and actions are in sync to each phrase or sentence her beloved expresses. With each line her love grows and explodes for him portrayed by her hair.
Let's Bring Back The Gentlemen
Poster Paint On Ivory Paper
"Look at the short clothes you wear, you asked for it." India a developing giant today, contains a rich culture and history. But! unfortunately India till this day seem to objectify women and bring this sexist mentality in to play. I was taught gentlemen always respect women. Being the youth of this country I want to change this mentality through my art. We stand for equality! Both sexes equally strong to make a change. Rape is a horrific act of brutality and the one way to bring a stop to it is acting as one. Yes I am the youth of this country, and I will make a difference. We will bring back the 'Gentle'men of India.
Creativity From A Potters Wheel Prayer Ground
Pencil On Paper Black Pen On Paper
Hermit
Charcoal On Paper
Hermit 'The Holy Man'. As I sat on the banks of the river Ganga, I struck a conversation with an Aghori Sadhu (followers of Lord Shiva) in the holy city of Varanasi, India. Leaving all worldly possession behind to attain nirvana or moksha his story made me re-look at life and all its aspects. How a human is born a simple creature but in due course of time transforms in to a complex being. Sitting beside him, sketching, he seemed to be in a state of meditation occasionally rolling his eyes to give me a glance.
The Bigger Picture
Colour Pencil & Marker On Paper
"I have a headache",pop a pill. "I have fever",pop a pill. "Im losing faith in humanity", is there a pill for that as well? Living in a country where the paradox between the rich and the poor never seems to end. The rich live with ease while the less fortunate struggle to find the next morsel. This poster was inspired by an article i came across on the internet regarding the unethical ways of drug trials. Multinational companies take advantage of the poverty in countries such as India and Bangladesh exploiting the people. Who would ever think a bottle of Coke could be the reason of innocently signing yourself up as a full time guinea pig. Companies producing these medical drugs for the market perform unethical drug trials on these 'subjects', leaving many staring in the eyes of death and many physically and mentally hampered for life. Its sad how in todays world Profit Maximisation has become more important than a persons life. Its a game that need needs to be stopped!
Devotional Surrender
Photography, Ink, Collage
When plunged in to thoughts of deep devotion, surroundings seem to be merely a blunder of thoughts and ideas. Eccentric, explosive, impulsive! A projection of vivd colours seem to pave the way to find nothing more than a surreal deeper meaning to one owns life.
Spill
Photography, Ink, Collage
In a black and white world it is our thoughts, beliefs and ideas that add colour. I believe every thought and emotion has a colour and when we express these feeling we let those colours free which paint our environment for us. Each individual has a different pattern just like each artists strokes are different making us artists in our own unique way painting our lives on a day to day basis.
Carnal
Acrylic On Canvas
When you leave the idea of spirituality behind and focus on being merely human. Understanding your body and being comfortable in your own flesh allows vibrance and good energy to come in to the body.
New School Competition Video
