‘In literary theory,
a text is any object that can be “read”, whether this object is a work of
literature, a street sign, an arrangement of buildings on a city block or
styles of clothing. It is a coherent set of signs that transmits some kind of
informative message […]’ explains Wikipedia.
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| Recent work by Sudharak Olwe |
In contemporary Indian art we continue to evolve the genre
of the human figure or portraiture as representations of our culture and its
unspoken dimensions. The photographic portraitures may represent new dimensions
of ( trans) sexuality, gender, queer groups or focus the unspoken through the
subaltern. My focus is the gaze of
the protagonist in the picture should meet the onlooker.
Every human being experiences a discreet sexuality which is
silently there, often in all human actions and expressions. Often these
experiences are repressed, except gentle suggestions in human conversations.
Sexuality is deeply silenced or means “layers of silencing” in common human
experiences. Spaces and right to conversation about one’s sexuality/ sexual
identity are few and nil especially for
the subalterns (economically, culturally and socially dispossessed).
Consequently, “speech as expressions of sexuality” and ruthless violence are deeply
entwined.
Sexuality forms an important aspect of human identity. The
discourse on sexuality breaks on the experiences of the “materiality” of the
human body. There is no other consequence that shapes one’s sexuality than the
materiality of the human body. How is one to negotiate these transforming
inwardly human experiences during childhood-puberty onwards? What is the nature
of subaltern sexuality? How does it manifest itself as a poignant reflection of
the self for most humans? In “Subaltern Sexuality: Body as Text” one may be
able to read the deeply unspoken, through-in the bodies of the protagonists.
The incredible voices from within- its manifestation as a poetic content of the
world or home (within) plays with inevitable control through punishments and silenced
power abuses.
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| Sudharak Olwe at Art & Soul Mumbai ( image source sudharak owle fb image) |
Sexuality is a bundle of energy when politicized- gets
recognized in the “queer moment/s” that any given social/cultural space
creates, making aware of one’s emerging/ transforming sexual identity. Several
such moments become really poignant for oneself to observe also the rupture
from within. A tearing inner voice acquires within as the gaze returned
(looking at the camera lens). Often the bare gaze of the protagonist is layered
and poetic with these expressions. The visuals are subtle and strong manifesting
the unspoken in their meeting of gaze with the onlooker.
Shubhalakshmi Shukla
Curator
