A Reunion with the 1st artist at the Vastrapur Tvak studio. - Kumar Ranjan

Kumar Ranjan 

(Tvak residency program 2014 )

This was back in 2014. 

I had the opportunity to catch up with him over a weekend in Manali. 

Solang Village.

I share with you his journey and work since. 

Kumar Ranjan says : " I had come to tvak when I was depressed and wondering what work to do 

I took work from 2002 because I liked the aesthetic of that work 

I had worked on mob ; a group of people dynamic 

I was not ready to do new work ;so the flashback worked for me 

The caption unadulterated art was also given because there was nothing in my mind . The pure aesthetic was used to recreate similar works . Ahmedabad also I say a big rush and crowds. 

Then  : traumatic depression of my own life I used to depict frustration agression and a realization of my own mistakes. I made a series of works based on physiological. Then I went to my village and was inspired by the new hope and a desire to begin fresh. The small things I saw and the resilience of the village people. They had little possesions, a lot of problems and yet they were hopeful. “Jajalpur ki murghi” eating a murghi was a fest. The family got together and enjoy the feast. The death of the bird is a delicate culinary fest for them . They come together and share food. 

Also the movements of the poultry bird. When the birds are not running around, the village is empty. From the morning crawing of the bird to the chase to bring it back when it wanders around. 

Hatching of the egg was seen by the artist as hatching a new future a new beginning, new possibilities. 

He just observed the bird. The chickens and roosters ate and made sure they fed their chicks. The life system was good to watch.  This story was made and depicted and then the series village of gold. This work was all executed on jute. 

The resources being limited they migrate in search of a better life and opportunity and they aim at survival in a big city where he is nobody and he is mistreated and does not fit in, but he makes money and is fending for his family hence the little money means a lot to him. That happiness and feeling, ambitions and dreams all compressed into his thoughts . He lives his life holding on to the morning dawn of this village and imagining a golden village. He distances himself physically from his roots so his family will have food. But there is a downside , this is westernization and commercialization. Why do we all run after this idea of a so called perfect life that does not exist. 

Then another series of works like “capacity of tolerance” and unhealthy relation of two roll no’s “ why I am hungry? “  hero zero” sorry truth .. My father ..... My mother and “family shoot” which were more installation like  and drawing attention to middle class views and struggles. Found objects and carpentry was used to make these installations. These works were conceptual and are from things that I see around me. There is a sudden click in my brain and I know something I have just seen will become a work . 

Now : working on a series of works which will incorporate embroidery. And the work will be display in some prominent exhibitions at galleries in Delhi.