Artist Harsimran Juneja is fascinated by the color yellow. He has done about 60 paintings exclusively in yellow and will probably do more. Colour, he says, is a balance between sadness and hope—a medium through which he explores the “gray” of life. “I don’t think I will ever recover from this,” he says over the phone from Ahmedabad.
Harsimran’s works, which include half-animal-half-human figures and text, challenge notions of social acceptance and notions of a perfect body. A series of four paintings titled ‘Insecurities’ is particularly inspired by the times we live in, says Harsimran. “Unfortunately, this is an era in which our physical shape reveals how or who we are.” Pictures are a reflection of a society full of contradictions.
Work titled ‘Induced Insecurity’
One of his striking works in the monochromatic series depicts a panda with the face of a cow next to a shredder. 30 x 60 inch work in mixed media (emulsion, acrylic, oil sticks on canvas) is based on the need to overcome the insecurities we create for ourselves. The series falls under the larger title, ‘Animal Confessions’, which are observations of life in a complex social environment.
He relies on human-animal hybrid figures to express the politics of human nature. The works are large, some of them up to 9-feet high. “Although COVID-19 opened up online art viewing and exhibition platforms, there is nothing like a physical exhibition, where viewers can experience the dimensions of the work,” he says.
A self-taught artist, he believes in maintaining discipline. He spends two hours in his studio every day before leaving for work- he is the co-founder and director of Uno Lona Kala Akademi, Ahmedabad. Although he graduated in Business Administration, art has always been at his core. “My life is a constant deliberation between conflicts and contradictions. While I want to be a full-time artist, I understand the need to be able to sustain life in the arts,” he says.
Harsimran Juneja
His art practice is inspired by his interactions with himself and his life experiences. There are narration, text, short poems and sketches. “I use a white paint for the canvas and it is a routine to look at it. I do what comes to my mind, sometimes I paint it, write it, scratch it or paint it. It gradually develops into a painting.” His visual language moves between representation and abstraction. He draws inspiration from the American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, whose raw and primitive style resonates with Harsimran’s sensibilities He is also influenced by the works of pop artist Andy Warhol and Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. “However, my art practice is a journey of finding my own voice,” he says.
His works are currently on display in a month-long group show at the Jonathan Ferrara Art Gallery in New Orleans. Some of the works are also part of a group show at Gallery 78, Hyderabad. Harsimran’s creations can also be seen on Instagram @harsimranjuneja.
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