Outsider Art - Paintings and Commentary by C K Purandare

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Outsider Art - 2

Outsider Art — 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.

Now we can afford depression.
Here we see a woman, may be in her thirties, in luxurious surroundings. Her material needs seem to have been met. And now she wonders, what next. Blue is the dominant color in the painting to show her low spirits.
There is a growing class of such people all over the world who can afford depression. This painting is about that class. Then the redressal of depression also becomes a big business. Stress management techniques like yoga, reiki, feng-shui, etc. are on offer at a cost.

Now we can afford depression

One can certainly understand and empathise with depression of the hungry, of the destitute, of victims of violence. But this depression, of the woman in the painting seems more out of self-centered-ness and a vacant mind.

Off to kill someone else's father

Off to kill someone else’s father.
This painting shows a soldier about to go for a war. He is hugging his daughter. The background shows an army of soldiers of a different race.
The painting is a critique of romanticism of war. Soldiers are looked upon as heroes and then martyrs. Let us not forget that this man is off to kill someone else’s father.

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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