Using photography and painting as interconnected mediums with equal intensity, Singh provides an empathetic view of human suffering that is raw and universal. They serve as mnemonic devices that document his experiences in the mines.
Ranjeet Singh | Photographic prints and paintings
Curatorial Advisor- Azra Bhagat
Essay- Prerna SM Jain
Program Performers: Mudra, Karishma D’lima & Smruti Chauhan
Film Screening Courtesy: Mouth of Hell
Ranjeet Singh uses photography and painting as interconnected mediums with equal intensity, providing an empathetic view of human travails that is raw and universal. As witnessed by him, the superimposed layering of objects and humans against a landscape is often punctuated by an eerie, surreal atmosphere. The dusty and drab backgrounds of the coal mines echo a sense of suffocation as well as isolation – yet there is a notion of resilience in the figures, and an underlying poetry in the compositions. The figures may seem anonymous to the viewer, but Singh uses expressive devices that transform the space into one engendering more intimate connections with the subjects.
Documenting Jharia, in the state of Jharkhand, Singh has a personal investment in the life of the individuals that he photographs and paints, as many of them have been integral to his childhood experiences and part of the environment he grew up in. His brutally honest portrayal of the labourers is handled with consideration and dignity, and is directed to serve as a form of silent protest. In order to make his work purposeful and understandable by the subjects whom he chooses to record, Singh has developed a figurative style that is visually readable, and yet can be interpreted variedly by audiences.
Ranjeet Singh’s poignant and compelling visual language addresses the challenges of our times. This compilation of works succeeds in evoking a recognition of the dignity of labour, and a shared understanding of the struggles of workers from many tribal areas in the country. The images urge the audience to register and reexamine the pressures of unfair social hierarchies, and the cavernous blackhole of greed that can consume the earth, and metaphorically, so much else from human lives.
India is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. The country relies on almost 300 coal-fired plants and plans to build 48 more by the end of the decade. The sub-continental peninsula contains enormous coal reserves, nearly a tenth of the world’s total, and produces around 85 crore tons of coal a year. According to a government panel’s projections, the country’s demand for coal is expected to reach about 140 crore tons by 2035.[1]
[1] Environment And Conservation, India Is Reinventing Its Energy Strategy—And The Climate May Depend On It, By Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, Published 15 Jul 2022, National Geographic.
PROGRAMMING
11th Aug.- Opening
13th Aug.- Artist's Walkthrough with Ranjeet Singh
20th Aug.- Slam Poetry & Open Mic by Karishma D’lima & Smruti Chauhan
21st Aug.- Director's Walkthrough with Prerna SM Jain
28th Aug.- Curatorial Walkthrough by Azra Bhagat
3rd Sep.- Film Screening of Mouth of Hell
10th Sep.- Nukkad Natak by Mudra
15th Sep.- Nukkad Natak & Walkthrough for Educational Institutes by Mudra & Director
17th Sep.- Nukkad Natak by Mudra & Closing