Printed Perceptions

With human emotions, it is not always about what is visible on the face, but also what is going on in the mind. The complexity of human emotion presents an interesting duality — they are hard to understand and, yet, the key to breathtaking art.

In order to bring out such inner emotions, an exhibition titled ‘Visible-Invisible’ is currently underway at the India International Centre. On display is the artwork of Sangeeta Pathak, who uses prints — lithography, etching, aquatint, drypoint, sugar lift etching — to depict these feelings.           

Her work mostly comprises of human figures because, she believes, “Your face can express emotions very easily.” Though most of her works on display use lithography, she considers the medium easy to use. She finds it a direct medium to express what she wants. “You connect with it immediately and work with it,” she adds.

Otherwise, she has used some incredibly laborious techniques for her prints. With lithography, the litho first needs to be grounded and, if it is big in size, one must put more pressure, which is time consuming. In the case of etching, zinc plates need to be bought and the surface needs to be prepped for carving.

Her work also delves on the subject of reflection. She explains, “Reflection implies that our body is reflecting. When there is light, our body reflects (in the form of a shadow) on the surroundings. But our inner reflection cannot come out.” She feels “our inner feelings must be expressed because if they are not, they keep on mounting and explode like a bomb.”

She feels that an artist, in this case, is the happier that the subject because “They can express those emotions through their work.” While a person’s inner feelings can be depicted on their face, the artist is the one who is witness to it.

Though her subject is people and their emotions, the people who she captures are individuals from her surroundings. “Wherever you go, there are so many faces. Every face has a new expression, feeling, features, and with this variety, one doesn’t need to go anywhere.”

If her work is examined carefully, one finds the use of elements like bulbs, railings and other non-living objects. What is even more interesting is that every ‘non-living’ element portrays its own emotion.  

Art often comes with an underlying message, and Sangeeta’s art is no different. She concludes the conversation by saying, “We must understand other people’s feelings. I believe that you should understand them feelings without asking.”

The exhibition is ongoing until December 24