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Award-winning cartoonist and illustrator Uttam Ghosh on his works on The Implacable Aperture of Time

Award-winning cartoonist and illustrator Uttam Ghosh, who works with a leading website, has been observing and commenting on the major political events in the country in his own inimitable way for more than two decades.

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History World Tour; Kashmir and (Right) Uttam Ghosh
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Since time immemorial, cartoons and illustrations have been used as powerful, satirical tools to make a commentary on the socio-political situation. Artists often resort to caricatures to cut through the clutter and express their personal views as well as opinions in a way that not only drives home the point but also prompts people to sit up and take notice. Award-winning cartoonist and illustrator Uttam Ghosh, who works with a leading website, has been observing and commenting on the major political events in the country in his own inimitable way for more than two decades. Magazine covers, posters, stage backdrops and photographs are also a part of his repertoire. Over 60 of them are now on display as part of a retrospective titled The Implacable Aperture of Time at Mumbai’s Clark House Initiative.

The 50-something artist has captured the impact of significant events such as the 1974 Emergency, the Nellie massacre in Assam in 1983; the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the 1992-93 riots and the Narmada Bachao Andolan, with which he was associated from 1987-1993. As one enters Clark House Initiative, one sees a target board with red and blue that also has a silhouette of late lok shahir and Dalit poet-singer Vilas Goghre who committed suicide after 10 Dalits were murdered and several others were injured during the 1997 Ramabai Nagar killings.

Interestingly, this silhouette is drawn from the same photograph that Uttam had clicked of Vilas while he was performing in Kolkata. It also made its way to the poster of Anand Patwardhan’s 2011 documentary Jai Bhim Comrade that was about the Ramabai Nagar killings. The red and blue colours are symbolic of the Ambedkarite movement (Jai Bhim) and those of the Left (Comrade) respectively. This in a way sets the tone for the retrospective.

The Sir JJ Institute of Applied Art alumnus admits that he has been deeply affected by socio-political events since an early age. Having moved from Nasik to Mumbai in 1975, he witnessed ‘the dark days of the Emergency and the turmoil in the city’. He says, “The only solace was the drawing class that my drawing teacher from the Sir J J Fort Boys’ High School where I studied, conducted after school hours. Good work was rewarded with tea and khari. It was fun.”

As a student, he was witness to the historic textile mill strike, the Nellie massacre in Assam and the Bhopal gas tragedy. Later, the 92-93 riots left an indelible impact on him. After joining The Sunday Observer in 1993, he started illustrating for diverse sections and ensured that he attempted a new style of drawing each time.

“By 1996, I started doing regular political cartoons and a weekly Op-Ed page column called Drawing the Lines took shape. It was as though I had found my true calling. Doing political cartoons, for me, is a constant struggle,” he 
confesses.

Visual artist and illustrator Shrujana N Shridhar says she decided to curate this retrospective as she has been greatly influenced by Uttam since her childhood. “The first section of the exhibition showcases his works which he had created during the political strife including book covers while the second section displays his political cartoons and photographs. I’ve curated this exhibition based on my impressions of Uttam. Over the years, he has done work for so many different kinds of people from diverse economic classes, those people should enjoy this exhibition. They should feel this is a journey back in time. This is also a tribute to the movement in this state and city.”

She adds that this is the apt time to walk down memory lane and look at these works. “When you look at his creations, you realise nothing has changed. This is just the right time to exhibit these kind of works not just in India but internationally too because of the current political situation as well as the huge churn of art works that are happening.” 

The Implacable Aperture of Time is on at Clark House Initiative till July 8 from 11 am – 7 pm.

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