Artist’s Statement: On the Cover Art/ Mad Paule/ Issue 15
The artwork on the cover page of this issue is titled “I will not be a rhinoceros.” This work is inspired by Eugene Ionesco’s Play ‘Rhinoceros’, written in1959, an avant-garde drama considered an important literature which is classified as Theater of the Absurd. Rhinoceros in the play is symbolic of Nazism, fascism and mob mentality. The Absurdity of man turning into a rhinoceros through various stages and giving in finally to become one. But some resist and do not capitulate.
The artist Mad Paule is based in New Delhi. He primarily works with mediums such as photography, illustrations and videos. The recurring themes of his works are intimacy, revolt, nostalgia and stages of deterioration. He has exhibited widely across the world and his work has been featured in excellent publications. The following are some of the responses of the questions we asked him over email.
We are curious about how you began your work, and what the journey has been like.
I started at a very young age. As far I remember, around the age of 5, when art meant copying cartoons from TV and newspapers and drawing neighbours and family members. I was very observant from the beginning. I remember my teachers noticing that I was not drawing regular festival scenes or pretty landscapes but day to day life of my father going to market or friend getting hurt during football matches. When I grew up a little I got aware of 2D animations from this old programme called Splat when discovery channel had just entered India. I think one of the first people who inspired me to make cartoons/caricatures was cartoonist Ajit Ninan. That is when I started making cartoons for the bulletin board in school for the weekly activities. Initially it was fun for everyone but it took a wrong turn when I offended a lot of school staff.
But secretly I was admired by a lot of teachers and friends and was encouraged to carry on and I did. I started working for campus paper and made cartoons/caricatures based daily news and activities around the city, often adding dark humor to it.
I took admission in College of Art Delhi, and refined my love of figure drawing and strengthened my skills in studying human anatomy and character. I also started exploring photography which in turn helped me as references for my sketches and illustrations. While I was in college I started working professionally with magazines and small studios as illustrator and sometimes comic artist.
How did you evolve your particular style and how did you experience the entire process?
It again comes from a lot of sketching. The strokes kept getting bolder and affirmative. Observing people, doing a lot of life studies in public places like railway stations, markets, parks etc.
What impacts your art?
Reading a lot is a must. Apart from visual artists and writers, music impacts my art a lot. Through the course of my life I have realized, no one can escape politics, it impacts every society, it seeps deep into your personal life.
What is your idea of political art in the Indian context and how do you navigate through it as an artist?
Every artist in every era and country deals with politics. Whether they accept it or not. Just as religion is a part of the societal structure. India being one of the largest and a very complicated society with so many nuances is bound to get affected by politics. It’s the biggest manipulative tool when combined with religion. I was practicing a very intimate form of art throughout after I got into figurative studies and photographs but eventually got back into expressing dissent through my works.
What bothers you about the Indian art scene and what kind of hopes do you have?
Lot of things bother me. Lot of “artists” are in denial or have been. They try to be apolitical because it [the political] doesn’t sell. A lot of art is just restricted to entertain a certain sect of society. A very safe and comfortable zone. And the “art scene” revolves around a few people and their patrons. Forced concepts, hollow art.
But the best thing which happened after the CAA protests is many young artists came out and started questioning things around. The art which could directly reach people through social media and digital platforms. Absolutely independent of the veils of a gallery or touts. They found their own audience who could relate to the common language and found expression in their works no matter which part of the world you are located in.
Who are your role models (writers, artists, thinkers)?
There are many, but if I cherry pick I would say Isaac Asimov, Bob Dylan, Gottfried Helnwein, Nina Simone, Eikoh Hosoe, R. K. Laxman, Lewis Caroll to name a few.
Who are the other Indian artists you look up to?Currently whosoever is questioning with the right intention and is fearless.
What message could you give to other younger artists on digital media, based on your experience?
Do your work, improve your skills to express yourself in the best way possible. Don’t be lousy, there is no shortcut. Read a lot, listen to good music and give everything you do the time it deserves. And never stop reasoning.
Do you believe artists need a community of peers to flourish?
It’s important and encouraging. Right kind of artist and community gives you a lot of strength.
What is your method of working? I work with multiple mediums. As a habit I doodle, then sketch and finally illustrate my ideas using digital or traditional methods. Mediums have almost become secondary to me. I now express through photographs, illustrations and installations.
What inspires you the most and what blocks your work?
I think hard working and consistent people inspire me the most. People going through hard times yet managing to pursue what they set out for is heartwarming and courageous. Censorship is the only road block.
What do you expect for yourself in the future?
I want to bring everything I have worked on, till now, together in a cohesive way, a medium which can reach more and more people in a more relatable way. Like a cinemascope. A film. I am hoping we get to see more courageous art in the galleries and public spaces.
Mad Paule is an artist based in New Delhi. He primarily works with mediums such as photography, illustrations and videos. The recurring themes of his works are intimacy, revolt, nostalgia and stages of deterioration. He has exhibited at Arles Photography festival (France), Carnem festival (Italy), Photo Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Blank Space (Norway), Fertellendewis (Netherlands) with PIX magazine (India), Tsukuba Biennale (Japan). His work has also been featured in Maxim Magazine, Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Ignant, Nakid Magazine, Illusion 360, Nature in Focus, Better India, Homegrown and Peachfuzz.