JITISH KALLAT (B. 1974)

WITH A VISUAL LANGUAGE DERIVED FROM THE CITY OF HIS BIRTH, JITISH KALLAT EXPLORES INDIA'S NEGOTIATION OF POST-MILLENNIAL NATIONAL IDENTITY THROUGH HIS PAINTINGS. IN SUFFIX (HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL) - 1 THE ARTIST REPRESENTS MUMBAI AS A MICROCOSM, EXAMINING RECURRING ISSUES RELEVANT TO THE CITY. IN THIS PAINTING, KALLAT DEPICTS A BLOSSOMING PLANT OR 'HERB' BEGINNING TO BLOOM WITH THE HEADS OF IDENTICAL PEOPLE INSTEAD OF FLOWERS. PLAYING WITH THE IDEA OF THE CITY REPEATEDLY GIVING BIRTH TO CLONES RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS, KALLAT INTRODUCES A MUTATED GARGOYLE IN THE CENTRE OF THE CANVAS, RECALLING THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE IMPOSING TRAIN STATION VICTORIA TERMINUS (NOW CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI TERMINUS) IN MUMBAI. AS THE GARGOYLE BLEEDS OR SPITS A VENOMOUS FLUID ONTO THESE MEN, KALLAT ATTEMPTS TO BRING FORTH THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDENS TO BE FOUND IN THIS BUSTLING METROPOLIS. THE PAINTING IS BALANCED UPON UPTURNED CHICKEN FEET, FURTHER CREATING A FEELING OF UNEASE WHILE SUGGESTING A MORE SINISTER RENDITION OF THE CITY.