Artist GR Iranna’s new work on peace and violence

National Award-winning artist GR Iranna’s new exhibition titled Scaffolding The Absent focuses on the uncertainty of human nature. His latest work continues from his last held exhibition Birth Of Blindness — from which he brings forth the idea of violence and peace and the instability that tags along with it.

With the help of four of his paintings, the artist envisions to create the awareness of the uncertainty of peace and non-violence in our present life. He questions his own conscience and believes that acquiring power and wealth makes people blind.

“This blindness happens when you acquire power and wealth. This blindness leads them to kill so many innocent people all in the name of religion. Thus, in no certain terms can you claim that there will be peace,” says Iranna. To prove his point, the artist uses iconic objects of non-violence. In his previous works, one can see objects like the pharaoh, Gandhi’s charkha and so on.

While in this particular exhibition, he uses the monk form. “Monks are a symbol of peace and non-violence. Through these monks, I wanted to express my thought process that peace will become handicapped,” he adds.

Explaining his paintings, Iranna says, “If you closely observe the painting ‘Bricks’, you will get to see that these monks are carrying bricks on their head and lotus in their hands. Here, bricks indicate the reality, while lotus represents love. But the bridge that they are standing on is not fully constructed — it may remain strong or fall as well — referring to the element of uncertainty. The painting ‘Bhikshu’ shows these monks carrying a bhikshu walking on a bridge made up of different creatures, which again contrasts with the reality.”