“If you want the truth, I will tell you the truth. Listen to the secret sound, the real sound which is inside you.”-Saint Kabir

Artist: Jayesh Shukla

Jayesh Shukla’s simple and unpretentious expressions in his drawings and paintings made with ink, pen and watercolours on paper, rely on minimalism and lucidity to convey sentiments, concepts, or narratives without overwhelming details. Just like Kabir’s humble couplets, here too the emphasis is on the essence rather than elaboration, creating an impactful visual experience. Each stroke, encumbered with muted colours and restrained palette, or even fine lines, is deliberate, conveying emotion, drive, mood and harmony. Uncluttered arrangements highlight the subject, making the message apt and clear. The whole composition reflects symbolic imagery embedded with deeper meanings, letting spectator find one’s own meanings and interpretations. The subtle minutiae of gestures or an object adds to the appeal, allowing connecting with the painting’s core essence.

A 15^th century mystic poet, Kabir has used numerous metaphors in his doha or couplets to deliver reflective spiritual actualities. With variety of elements, he exemplifies the interconnectedness of life, the transient nature of existence, and the path to divine consciousness. He parallels the soul to a raindrop merging with the ocean, embodying the union of the individual self with the divine; and lotus and mud to represent spiritual purity arising amidst worldly chaos. The river’s journey toward the sea reflects the soul’s quest for liberation; the fragility of life through metaphors like a flame extinguished by the wind. The quintessence of these allegories is his transcendental teachings in ordinary practices, making them reachable and eternal. Through his straightforward expression, Jayesh enthuses Kabir’s profound understanding of life’s essence and spiritual realisation. His distorted human drawings encounter traditional acuities of form and proportion, arresting raw sensation or intangible conceptions. Exaggerated features, with popping out or drowsy eyes, twisted limbs, or elongated arms, flying beard and titled heads, all conjure feelings of quest, uneasiness, inquisitiveness, or intrigue. These artworks may imply inner chaos, societal evaluation, and the complexity of human identity.

 

Simplicity is a stamp of Kabir’s doha, and efforts can be seen by Jayesh in reflecting his deep insight, belief in a direct and unembellished approach to mysticism and life through his minimal approach here. A single human form carrying one symbol makes one think of the original doha and connect to the concept. He advocates for humbleness, gratification, and detachment from superfluous and materialistic world, rejecting elaborate rituals and dogmas. At one place the artist has painted Kabir holding a rosary and immediately "Mala to kar mein phire, jeebh phir mukh maahi, Manua to chahu dis phire, yeh to sumiran naahi" comes to mind reminding one to focus the mind on the divine, not randomly follow the outward act of turning beads.

Symbolism is governing factor in Kabir’s doha, as he uses vivid, everyday images as similes to carry thoughtful spiritual and philosophical ideas. These ciphers in poetic simplicity bridge the tangible and the abstract, making his ideologies relatable and relevant. Kabir, a weaver by profession, uses the loom as a symbol of life, where each thread represents actions and destiny woven by the divine. Along with these storylines of rain, cloud, moon and ocean symbolizing the soul’s longing to merge with the divine, shedding individuality Jayesh has also drawn a portrait enclosed by nature and holding a flower which reveals that everything unfolds at its own pace, one may water the plant endlessly, but the fruit is only borne in its season- “Dheere dheere re mana, dheere sab kuch hoye, maali seeche so ghara, rutt aye phal hoye.”

Among many animals and insects suggesting human traits, spiritual lessons, and philosophical truths, which Kabir has quoted, the scorpion has been picked up as an element in drawing by Jayesh Shukla, showing it as a symbol of agony, unawareness, or detrimental propensities. It often represents the self-inflicted suffering caused by ego, attachment, or bad deeds. The sting of the scorpion serves as a reminder of the consequences of one’s actions and the need for self-awareness. Rain in his artworks denotes grace, blessings, and the divine’s nurturing existence. Crows in Jayesh’s art epitomize Kabir’s criticism of human tendencies to focus on external appearances, superficialities or trivialities, much like a crow scavenging for scraps, neglecting deeper truths. “Kaga sab tan khaiyo, mera chun chun khaiyo maas, Do naina mat khaiyo, mohe piya milan ki aas" echoes deep spiritual yearning of uniting with the Almighty.

Kabir’s preaching often employs vivid and relatable imagery, including roots, bubbles, and goats, to convey profound metaphysical notions. Roots and branches which indicate the foundation of life and spirituality can be seen in drawings by the artist. Though it is a direct depiction, yet enwraps Kabir’s deep concept of nurturing strong, spiritual ‘roots’ by focusing on inner growth and detachment from worldly distractions. Playing with bubbles signify the fleeting and fragile nature of life, underlining impermanence and the transient nature of worldly life. The kite (patang) has been painted as a metaphor for human ambition, desires, and the consequences of being controlled by ego or attachments; soaring high but hitched to a thread to demonstrate the illusion of freedom, drifting high with pride or desires until it smashes when the cord breaks. One can even musical instruments like bells and sitar and even toys like top rotating over the hand and paper boats.

Story written by

 Alka Chadha Harpalani

The solo show of series inspired by values of Kabir, of more than sixty paintings by Jayesh Shukla, sponsored by Gujrat State Lalitkala Academy, Ahmedabad, will be exhibited from 17^th December to 21^st December 2024 at Nippon Art Gallery, Mumbai.