Saturday, 14 June 2014

Raw (Cassandra Barnette) IMAGE CRITIQUE 1: JITISH KALLAT


Jitish Kallat, Universal Recipient 2, 2008, Acrylic on canvas 249 x 173 cm, Bronze fixtures 35 x 32 x 43 cm.

A portrait of a man painted by the artist Jitish Kallat, the background of the painting consist of straight vertical lines that seems like a wallpaper, that is pink and yellow oxide. And a white drip like stain on top of his left shoulder, mixed with a hint of grey and red forming an organic abstract form.  

The man is wearing a blue shirt with two epaulettes on his shoulders. There is a gold emblem on his left shoulder which states “TRIS SECUR FORCE”. Is he some sort of law enforcer perhaps? Or a security guard? The complexion of his face is greyish white worn out, weary, ridiculed with black dots. The hint of red within his eyes (bloodshot), gives a sense of neglected sleep and fatigue. The heavy bags under his eyes increase my suspicion of an overworked man.      

At first glance his hair appears like a weird afro with black and white shapes, till you zoom in on his head you realise it’s not hair, but figures of people, vehicles and animals etc. That portrays a mutated crushed, overpopulated environment, as though his thoughts are erupting like a volcano. I imagine that this man is associated with the government, a law enforcer policeman.

The exhausted appearance on his face gives away the struggles he faces in the society he resides in, hence why the many figures on top of his head represent the crisis of an overpopulated environment. Overworked and deprived of sleep, trying to maintain order in a society or country that is slowly falling into a state of chaotic disorder.                       

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