Arpita Singh: A Retrospective illuminating India’s Tumultuous Past
Table of Contents
- 1. Arpita Singh: A Retrospective illuminating India’s Tumultuous Past
- 2. Navigating Abstraction and Figuration
- 3. themes and Interpretations
- 4. legacy and Influence
- 5. Arpita Singh’s Impact on Contemporary art: A U.S. Outlook
- 6. How does Arpita Singh’s work reflect the socio-political climate of India, especially during the time of the Emergency?
- 7. Interview: Unpacking arpita Singh’s Retrospective at the Serpentine Galleries
- 8. Early Influences and Artistic Evolution
- 9. Themes, Interpretations and worldwide Appeal
March 21, 2025
Arpita Singh, a luminary of Indian art, recently had her six-decade career celebrated with “Remembering” at teh Serpentine Galleries in London. This marked a significant milestone: her first solo institutional exhibition outside India. The Serpentine Galleries also made history by dedicating their main gallery space to a South Asian artist for the first time. Singh, frequently enough found working in her delhi home studio, responded with characteristic understatement: “Serpentine is a known gallery, so it is indeed a prestigious thing for me.”
at 87, singh prioritizes her art above all else. Her paintings are vibrant, often chaotic, filled with figures, motifs, and text framed by intricate borders. These elements resonate with a devoted audience.Her work, like the epic *My Lollipop City: Gemini Rising*, evokes the storytelling tradition of scroll paintings and the detail of miniature art. The perspectives shift, and scales change, creating a unique visual experience.
Singh’s artistic journey is a blend of Indian and Western influences.During her studies at Delhi Polytechnic in the late 1950s, she was introduced to European modernists by instructors Biren De and sailoz Mookherjea. “In our third year, our professor took us to the library and introduced us to western art,” Singh recalls. “I was so impressed by Der Blaue Reiter and Kandinsky.More so than the French artists.” This early exposure had a profound impact on her artistic development.
Decades later, a trip to Switzerland allowed Singh to experience Kandinsky’s paintings firsthand.This encounter was transformative. She wanted to exclaim: “Master, I have come back to you.” The influence of Paul Klee is evident in her early watercolors, with their patchwork of colors, which contrasts with the figurative art that brought her fame. This early work opens her Serpentine show. After art school, as a consultant at the Weavers’ Service Centre, she experimented with different styles, blending Chagall-like whimsy with surrealist elements.
When Kekoo gandhy gave Singh her first solo show in Delhi, it caused a period of artistic doubt. Feeling disconnected from her work, she abandoned “painting figures” and focused on essential elements: dots and lines. “For six years,I kept repeating these dots and lines,” she explains.”It naturally became an abstract form.” This exploration of abstraction was a pivotal moment in her career, allowing her to reinvent her approach to figuration.
Returning to figurative painting in the 1980s, Singh’s work became infused with the social and political realities of India, notably the impact of Indira Gandhi’s imposition of emergency rule. Although her paintings often include elements of state violence, such as military figures, they can initially appear subdued. A closer look reveals a sense of apathy among her subjects. Fellow artist Atul Dodiya observes: “The work is superficially childlike and naive, but it comes from deep experience.”
themes and Interpretations
Singh’s artistic vision extends beyond mere personal reflection. Women feature prominently in her paintings, frequently enough overshadowing men. However, their stylized depiction, using colors like chalky pink or pale hues, suggest a distance from the artist herself. Regarding *Devi Pistol Wali*, Singh clarifies: “It is nothing like that. Why must I see her as a source of power? Neither do I see a man as a source of power. Both are the same for me.” When asked about the recurring maternal figures in her work and the impact of her daughter Anjum Singh’s death on her art, she simply asks: “How can that change my work?” This highlights her resistance to straightforward interpretations of her art based on biographical details.
legacy and Influence
Throughout her career, Singh has maintained her artistic independence, avoiding the debates that preoccupied groups like the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group and Group 1890. This freedom from dogma has allowed her vision to flourish.Singh’s diverse sources of inspiration and her porous approach to art-making contribute to the animated quality of her paintings. Nilima Sheikh, another renowned Indian artist, notes that Singh “has a way of seeing things fully, which I have tried to emulate.”
Singh’s extensive vision integrates newspaper stories, book excerpts, theatrical elements, and personal memories. “Things happen on their own,” Singh explains. “The affairs of political and social life come into my painting like the way light comes as color and breeze comes as movement.” Ultimately, her focus is on form and visual drama, executed with apparent ease.
Arpita Singh’s Impact on Contemporary art: A U.S. Outlook
Arpita singh’s work, though rooted in the Indian context, carries universal themes that resonate with American audiences. Her exploration of political turmoil, gender dynamics, and the human condition are relevant to the U.S. art scene,where artists grapple with similar issues. Consider the works of artists like Kara Walker, whose silhouettes confront issues of race and power in American history, or Jenny Holzer, whose text-based installations provoke reflection on social and political realities. Singh’s art offers a distinct perspective, enriching the dialogue on these issues within the U.S.
The Serpentine exhibition’s focus on singh is significant because it challenges the dominant Western narrative in art history. This aligns with the growing movement in the U.S. to diversify the art world and recognize the contributions of artists from underrepresented regions.Museums across the country, like the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., are actively working to expand their collections and exhibitions to include more South Asian artists, reflecting a broader cultural shift towards inclusivity.
For emerging American artists, Singh’s career offers an inspiring example of artistic independence and resilience. Her ability to synthesize diverse influences and create a unique visual language demonstrates the power of individual vision. in a U.S. art world often driven by trends and market pressures, Singh’s commitment to her own artistic path is a valuable lesson.
How does Arpita Singh’s work reflect the socio-political climate of India, especially during the time of the Emergency?
Interview: Unpacking arpita Singh’s Retrospective at the Serpentine Galleries
March 21, 2025
Anya Sharma: Welcome, Ms. Kapoor. Thank you for joining us to discuss the remarkable career of Arpita Singh,especially in light of her current retrospective at the Serpentine Galleries. This is a historic moment, being her first major UK exhibition. can you share your perspective on the significance of this exhibition?
Priya Kapoor (art Historian): Thank you for having me. It’s absolutely pivotal. Arpita Singh is a titan of Indian contemporary art. This exhibition, “Remembering,” is not only a celebration of over six decades of her work but also a much-deserved spotlight on her unique contributions to the global art landscape. the Serpentine dedicating its main gallery to a South Asian artist is a powerful statement about the evolving art world and its increasing inclusivity.
Early Influences and Artistic Evolution
Anya Sharma: Singh’s work is known for its vibrant colors, layered narratives, and potent symbolism. What do you think are the key influences that have shaped her artistic journey, from her studies to the present day?
Priya Kapoor: Her early exposure to European modernists like Kandinsky had a profound and lasting impact. Her exploration of abstraction in the 1960s, born from a period of artistic doubt, was a crucial turning point that paved the way for her later figurative work. Also, the impact of Indian miniature painting and the storytelling traditions of scroll paintings are palpable within her work. Her unique ability to blend Indian and Western elements is what makes her art truly unique.
Anya Sharma: Her shift to figurative painting in the 1980s seems particularly poignant, reflecting the social and political climate of India, including the impact of the Emergency. How does she navigate those themes? Can you provide an example of a piece that illustrates this?
Priya kapoor: Exactly. Her work doesn’t shy away from the realities of her time. Look at pieces like “Devi Pistol Wali.” While the imagery of state violence is present, the apathy expressed by her subjects, particularly in the women she frequently paints, is perhaps a more powerful commentary.She presents complexities, not simple answers, which makes her insights remarkable.
Themes, Interpretations and worldwide Appeal
Anya Sharma: Women often feature prominently in Singh’s work, often overshadowing men. how does she portray these female figures, and what messages do you think she is conveying about gender and power?
Priya Kapoor: Singh does not subscribe to straightforward readings, as demonstrated in her own words. Her characters often have a unique strength, not by overt power, but through a quite complexity. She resists reductionism, and is more intrigued by the human aspect. Take, for instance, how she feels about the power of her subjects: both men and women are viewed the same way. This makes her artistic approach even more special.
Anya Sharma: Her work,although rooted in India,has attracted audiences globally. How do you think American audiences appreciate her art, and what impact does her independence and lack of dogma have on the art world as a whole?
Priya Kapoor: Absolutely. The themes of political turmoil, gender dynamics, and the human condition are universal. For American audiences, Singh’s art offers a unique lens through which to view these issues.Her artistic independence from the more orthodox groups offers a unique lens with which to view these issues. The impact on the wider art world is critically important. She challenges the dominant Western narrative and encourages a more inclusive and varied artistic landscape.
Anya Sharma: what do you see as the enduring legacy of Arpita Singh? What does her career offer for the future generations of artists grappling with their own unique artistic paths?
priya kapoor: her legacy will be her unwavering commitment to her creative vision.She is a powerful example of artistic independence and the ability to create a unique visual language. She has a way of seeing things fully. In an art world often driven by trends, she’s shown the world that this individual vision, and the courage to follow it, is the most powerful force of all. Her commitment to exploring memories and stories continues to influence more and more younger generations.
anya Sharma: Ms. Kapoor,thank you for providing such valuable insights. It has been a pleasure.
Do you think Singh’s approach to political and cultural complexities applies today? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
