Jyotindra Manshankar Bhatt, aka Jyoti Bhatt, has created paintings, prints and photography that document India’s folk culture. He uses symbols of traditional art to make colourful pop imagery which is both impactful and layered.
I’m captivated by his 2009 serigraph Jal Thal Nabh. It features dots, in 88 colours, to form the elements of water, earth, and sky, and the interconnectedness of life, on paper. Exquisite birds fly through a cloudy sky, perfectly proportioned fish dance in the sea, beautiful flowers adorn the land between them. There’s a sense of harmony and balance between these natural forces. And yet, they retain their distinctive characteristics.
These are more than polka dots. This is more than folk art. The blue, green, white and pink dots create a sense of calm and peace. The work itself creates a contemplative space, where boundaries between the physical and the spiritual seem to blur. It feels like a visual meditation on the harmony of life.
Over time, as I continue to grow as an artist, I find new layers of meaning in this particular work. It reveals interdependencies between nature and life, using metaphors and symbolism as subtle cues. Spend time looking at the work – the clouds echo the waves, land seems like sea, the fins on the fish look like the leaves on the plants. There’s movement, but order and harmony – never chaos. And Bhatt has a way of observing the details – he has, in his practice, photographed doors, floors, pots, pans, walls, houses – but creating a cohesive modern narrative from it.
{{/usCountry}}Over time, as I continue to grow as an artist, I find new layers of meaning in this particular work. It reveals interdependencies between nature and life, using metaphors and symbolism as subtle cues. Spend time looking at the work – the clouds echo the waves, land seems like sea, the fins on the fish look like the leaves on the plants. There’s movement, but order and harmony – never chaos. And Bhatt has a way of observing the details – he has, in his practice, photographed doors, floors, pots, pans, walls, houses – but creating a cohesive modern narrative from it.
{{/usCountry}}Jal Thal Nabh reminds me of the works of another great Indian artist, KG Subramanyan, who was Bhatt’s mentor. His work too focused on creating fantastical images combined with iconic symbols from Indian folklore. Bhatt’s work resonates deeply with me because of the way he combines folk art and traditions with his modernist approach. I had the privilege of working with him at his studio in Baroda, where I was privy to his artistic perspective. His ability to capture the essence of Indian culture while pushing the boundaries of printmaking and photography is something I greatly admire.
His work feels like a bridge between the past and the present, which aligns with my own interest in finding sanctuary within the ordinary. It is also similar to my practice of preserving traditional printmaking techniques through a contemporary approach. This allows me to create art that connects modern audiences to our shared cultural roots.
The way Bhatt weaves together different elements of nature into a cohesive whole resonates with my own exploration of interlinking everyday objects and memories to create a sense of security and tranquillity. I often use similar motifs like pink flowers and birds, which symbolise the beauty and continuity of life.
ARTIST BIO: Jayati Kaushik is a printmaker and artist from New Delhi, specialising in drypoint. Her works invite viewers to cherish the beauty in life’s seemingly mundane fragments, while provoking contemplation.
From HT Brunch, September 07, 2024
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