This is a project from the module of Visual and Design Culture in which any sculpture belonging to the modern era had to be picked out and analyzed as per one's own understanding.
This is the piece I chose.
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| "Feeling" by Kusum Jain |
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This
sculpture is made out of
fibre and was displayed at Triveni Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.
The
sculpture has been given an ancient look with the base colour being golden with
a tinge of black here and there. On seeing the sculpture, deliberately without
looking at the title, i firstly tried to figure out what is it that the
sculptor wants to get across to its viewers through this piece. The significant
things which were visible in the sculptor were the woman, the children and the
woman’s elongated legs and arms.
The
woman shown is Indian, which is pretty much clear from the way the woman has tied her hair into a bun (jooda). Her body proportions have been made
in a way which depicts her arms and legs longer than required.
After looking at the title “feeling”, I interpreted the woman as the
mother of the children. The posture in which she is sitting is the one in which
generally a parent plays with his/her kid. So the sculpture is showing the
mother who is trying to enjoy with her children. The significant part is the
elongated legs and arms which show the over-whelming love and care, the
feelings; she has in her heart for the children that she can do anything to
give them happiness. Not only has she been shown with longer legs to make it
easy for all of her children to enjoy with her all together, but her longer
arms depict that she’s vigilant about their safety as well. Also, since its
quite a height for the small kids, she has been shown with a raised head so that she can keep an eye on them.
Another
thing which the sculptor might be trying to show is the ethics of the Indian
culture and the urge children have to get their parents’ blessings! Since all
the small kids have been shown one after the other, we can interpret that they
are having a race kind if a thing to see who reaches to the mother’s feet first
to touch them and be blessed. Though, it’s more of just a fun activity and a
mother’s feelings for her children are unbiased and unconditional! They are
always equal for all her children no matter what!
Since
the sculptor has shown so many children clung to the their mother’s legs, in a
loving but playful manner, it also represents the idea, of the old India, of
having many children who further go on to carry the family name and culture.
Also, I feel that all the kids shown are males, which shows the stereotypical, yet still present
tradition of preference of a boy child over a girl child.
By
the title of the sculpture “feeling”, the whole concept of an infant
recognising her mother through the tactile feel or the touch has also been
reinforced by the artist. It’s that touch which makes an infant aware of his/her
mother being around him/her and the child being absolutely safe and protected.
So it’s the “feel” that connects an infant to his/her mother.
If
we look at the colour of the art piece again, we can see the use of more of
gold where the mother has been shown, while more of black towards the other
end. This might be to show the extreme divinity, godliness and serenity of the
motherhood!
Another
thing which comes into my mind on seeing the shape and form of the sculpture is
a saxophone. A saxophone being a musical instrument which, according to me,
represents passion and intense emotions is an absolutely appropriate form to be
given to the whole piece as the relationship between the mother and her
children is very intense and strongly passionate too! Hence, this form can be
justified.
