ROY presents: Tarun Sharma
Tarun Sharma is a visual artist based in New Delhi. His works largely feature his own reactions to and analyses of the world around him. To document his surroundings, Sharma frequently employs various modes of production. The artist’s recent project -- displayed here at ROY -- is entitled “Helplessness - a common thread running through our society” and features intaglio printing, where an image is incised into a surface (here, a copper plate), covered with ink, and stamped onto a paper material. The series plays with themes of empathy, sensitivity, and need to encourage audiences to really reflect on their own basic privileges, many of which are frequently taken for granted.
With this set of works, Sharma has taken a special interest in the experiences of those without basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter and the associated social responsibility of those who have the ability and resources to help. By focusing his images on subjects such as neglect and helplessness, he addresses the increasing lack of empathy for the misfortunes of others pervading modern society. Sharma prompts viewers to consider the fragility of life, trauma and its after effects, the politics of land, and both administrative and individualistic approaches to helping others.
In these videos Tarun shares his experiences, In this video, I came across this old man who always use to scratch his head and body rigorously. As I was already working on the people who were living on/around that railway bridge, I tried to ask him about how he ended up here. During the conversation also he was continuously scratching all over his body. I asked him about his life before coming to this city as he was from a different state and came to Delhi for his medical treatment but unfortunately, his money was exhausted and he landed upon this railway bridge.
I went nearby that railway bridge as earlier while climbing this bridge I use to observe these people from upstairs where I felt breathless because of my medical condition and while this shortening of breath I use to stay for 10-15 minutes observe people around me and then move forward. So I went under this bridge where these people stay in ghettos and I talked to them about their life under that railway bridge so I tried to make some portraits and what I felt after meeting them after listening to them. I asked questions which they have asked me while recording that video.
I went under that bridge again and then talked to some new faces again, but to my surprise, they know me and I took some art material with me as I saw so many kids there making drawings on the floor with red brick pieces.
Apart from printmaking, I also have a keen interest in exploring new mediums, so I did some drawings, sketches, and paintings on my sketchbooks and then made a video animation related to the ignorance of our privileged society towards those who are seriously living in inhumane conditions. We all just walk over them and ignore the visuals which provoke questions in our mind.
Get to know Tarun during our ROY talks now available on ROY’s YouTube Channel
