Written by Vandana Kalra |Updated: November 4, 2019 9:33:09 am
Debanjan Roy critiques the extensive use of Gandhi in our everyday life through his exhibition
Roy’s references are traditional and familiar toy figurines from across the world. If as an American Munny Doll, Gandhi holds his trademark stick, in Super Gandhi he wears the colours and cape of the Mattel superhero, ready to fight the world.
When he started reading about politics and political thought, artist Debanjan Roy recalls being fascinated with the image of Mahatma Gandhi. Gradually, he developed an inclination to study his persona and projection. “Over the years, the image of Gandhi has been used by so many people for personal agenda or to reach out to the people at large. I was always intrigued by this, and also how there is hardly anyone following his ideology and ideals,” says Roy. In his own work, he chose not to idolise Gandhi but humanise him instead. “On his birthday in 1939, he had stated that rather than having his statues erected everywhere, he wished people would promote the social and humanitarian work he did,” says Roy, 46. After receiving critical acclaim at Aicon Gallery in New York, his exhibition “Toying with Gandhi” is showing at Akar Prakar in Delhi. “Gandhi is perhaps the most overused political person. He has become a veritable toy, used to fulfill vested interest,” says the Kolkata-based artist.
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