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Lot Essay
Many of my sculptures begin with the image of a young underprivileged child appearing variously as a street waif, a child labourer, a juvenile victim of numerous atrocities. They embody the spirit of survival, holding up the twin narratives of strife and grit. 'Annexe' carries a whip with which he lashes himself to earn a living, enduring a silent monologue with pain. His feet are shaped like homes, forming the quintessential image of a nomad whose home is where he lays his feet. Treated in black-lead, 'Annexe' ensures that you take back a black stain on your fingers if you choose to touch him. Touch remains the moment of friction for all interactions between the privileged and the underprivileged; and these sculptures provoke a tactile engagement, seek a physical reaction and demonstrate the discomfort. Yet another metaphorical underpinning that interests me is that black-lead is the softest form of carbon while diamond remains the hardest.
Jitish Kallat (in dialogue with the artist)
Jitish Kallat (in dialogue with the artist)