brilliant ideas episode #22: n.s. harsha · harsha also combines biographical elements with his own...
TRANSCRIPT
Brilliant�Ideas�Episode�#22:�N.S.�HarshaStoryteller�who�talks�India
N.S.�Harsha�is�an�artist�based�in�the�southern�part�of�India.�His�works�are
traditional�Indian�miniature�paintings�but�with�modernistic�changes,�showing
a�spectrum�of�artistic�and�figurative�paintings.�As�an�observer�or�a�thinker,
the�artist�presents�his�style�of�wit�and�storytelling�through�his�works,
He�also�studies�borders�and�walls�in�the�world�and�gives�the�viewers�an
opportunity�to�think�about�intelligence,�beliefs,�and�powers�through
elaborate�drawings,�sculptures,�and�installations.�Harsha�says�that,�like�a�chef
who�serves�and�waits�for�a�response,�he�always�looks�forward�to�the�viewers'
Communicating�with�wit
observing�the�texture�of�the�earth�including�rice�fields�or�tea�fields,�and
people�living�there�based�on�his�understanding�on�Indian�history�and�culture.
responses.�Brilliant�Ideas�Episode�#22�features�N.S.�Harsha�and�his�works
depicting�India,�presented�by�Bloomberg�and�Hyundai�Motor.
Works�of�Harsha�newly�invigorates�traditional�Indian�miniature�paintings�and
views�the�icons�of�the�Hindu�religion,�which�is�one�of�the�major�religions�of
Indians,�in�a�new,�modern�way,�to�reconstruct�overall�traditions�of�the
country.�This�does�not�mean�that�his�works�are�against�the�traditions.�Though
he�does�not�actively�participate�in�rituals,�events,�or�other�religious�activities
held�around�the�country,�Harsha�regards�them�important�and�worships�the
tradition�of�the�country�that�he�was�raised�in.�Furthermore,�the�Indian
traditions�exist�at�the�deep�roots�of�the�artist�as�one�of�the�major�elements
that�constitutes�him.�
The�reason�that�the�artist�adds�a�new�breath�to�the�traditional�Indian
miniature�paintings�is�due�to�his�interest�in�what�is�modern,�which�renders
him�to�feel�deep�affection�for�minimal�abstract�paintings,�or�to�be�inspired�by
Japanese�manga.�Trying�to�maintain�an�awakened�point�of�view,�Harsha�also
believes�that�the�traditional�culture�matters,�looking�at�how�the�inner
characteristics�of�religions�monopolizes�people’s�lives.�Therefore,�Harsha’s
artworks�keep�the�form�of�the�traditional�miniature�paintings,�while
describing�events�around�the�world�and�in�everyday�lives�of�India,�as�if�telling
a�story.�This�storytelling�of�the�artist�shows�the�viewers�what�is�going�on
around�the�world�in�an�eccentric�yet�brilliant�way.
Crossing�Traditional�and�Modern�India
Harsha�also�combines�biographical�elements�with�his�own�experiences�and
social�and�political�issues�around�the�globe.�<Nations>(2007)�is�an�array�of
192�sewing�machines�which�are�making�or�mending�flags�of�the�member
states�of�the�United�Nations.�By�displaying�sewing�machines�in�operation,
Harsha�intended�to�demonstrate�the�modern�society�and�the�labor�of�people
living�in�the�modern�times,�yet�staying�in�the�past.�Another�work�of�his,�<A
macro�economic�dispute�on�price�band�of�Rs�30�to�60�per�day>(2004),�is�also
about�politics�and�labor.�In�the�form�of�a�traditional�miniature�paintings,�this
work�shows�farmers�and�a�dike,�and�businessmen�dipping�their�foot�to�their
ankles.�These�images�describe�the�dynamic�economic�state�emerging�in�the
modern�Indian�society,�along�with�human�loss�caused�for�the�economic
growth.�In�such�way,�the�artist�handles�the�subject�that�could�seem�quite
serious�with�a�little�bit�of�vagueness�and�lightness�to�approach�it�more
smoothly�with�the�viewers.
“I�fill�my�work�with�gaps�and�loose�ends;�I�want�to�lead�and�mislead�the
viewer”:�A�bit�whimsical�remark�of�Harsha�reflects�his�thoughts�included�in
his�works.�Saying�that�he�starts�to�create�artworks�inspired�by�vague�thoughts
occurring�from�everyday�experiences,�the�artist�asserts�that�artworks�do�not
always�tell�clear�stories.�The�intended�vagueness�in�his�works�makes�them
more�interesting,�and�the�artist�himself�seems�to�enjoy�it.�
Seen�at�a�distance,�works�of�Harsha�seems�vague�as�well�as�plain�without�any
special�features;�up�close,�the�works�tell�hundreds�of�stories�and�mysteries.
This�figuratively�shows�the�state�of�India,�which�is,�when�largely�seen,�a
country�with�a�large�population,�while�inside�it�is�filled�with�people�living
there�and�stories�of�each�of�them.�<Mooing�Here�and�Now>,�created�in�2014,
is�a�painting�piece�without�a�marked�finish�or�regular�form,�in�which�a�diver
connects�a�milking�device�to�a�cow,�and�an�elephant�follows�the�cow.�This
illustrates�the�relationship�between�human�and�animals,�which�is�closely
related�to�the�religions�and�industries�in�the�Indian�society,�where�technology
Whimsical�Storyteller
is�developing�increasingly.�The�surreal�image�on�the�outside�also
demonstrates�the�economy�and�cultures�of�India�on�its�other�side,�revealing
the�characteristic�of�Harsha’s�works.
Early�works�of�Harsha�have�expressionistic�features,�being�influenced�by
children’s�stories�or�oral�folk�songs;�over�time,�the�artist�started�to�get
interested�in�“leaving�a�mark,”�making�new�attempts�in�his�artworks.�Harsha
gathers�characterful�people�and�forms�to�find�an�interrelation�that�can�show
the�facts�of�life.�Rather�than�focusing�on�higher�visual�quality,�he�centers�on�a
process�of�getting�to�know�each�small�shape�of�a�big�picture.�Generally,�the
artist�creates�his�works�with�various�materials�such�as�watercolors�with�a�fast
paint�flow,�woods,�powder,�photographs,�or�grains�of�rice;�he�does�not�use
these�unique�materials�just�to�present�experimental�pieces.�Harsha�regards
the�materials�as�a�space�rather�than�a�mere�object,�being�concerned�about
the�stories�they�each�have�and�including�the�stories�in�his�works�to�show�their
journeys�and�to�tell�interesting�stories.�Harsha�is�a�whimsical�artist�who�has�a
specific�meaning�he�wants�to�convey,�which�would�be�the�reason�he�is�known
as�a�storyteller�of�India.�■�with�ARTINPOST
<Come�give�us�a�speech(detail)>�2008Acrylic�on�canvas�182.88×182.88cm(6�panels);overall�dimension�182.88×1,097.28cm
Born�in�1969,�an�Indian�artist�N.S.�Harsha�presents�rich�colored�acrylic
paintings,�reinterpreting�India’s�traditional�miniature�paintings.�On�a�huge
ground,�he�creates�complicated�relations�between�people�with�exquisite�and
bold�brush�work.�His�figures�have�a�little�bit�sly�inclination.�On�the�other�hand,
they�are�interested�in�other�people,�something�powerful�and�unique�and�in
strange�and�non-matching�incidents�in�the�world.�His�painting�draws�various
life�modes�of�Indian�people;�meanwhile,�the�artist’s�site-specific�sculptures
show�strong�political�views.�
N.S.�Harsha,�now�lives�and�works�in�Mysore,�India.�Even�though�he�did�not
study�fine�arts�at�a�young�age,�he�has�held�a�number�of�exhibitions�including
solo�exhibitions�at�the�Dallas�Museum�of�Art�and�the�Victoria�Miro�Gallery.�He
has�also�been�a�part�of�the�Singapore�Biennale�2006,�2nd�Fukuoka�Asian�Art
Triennial�2002,�and�won�the�Artes�Mundi�Prize,�creating�an�impressive�career
in�the�art�world.
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