A Canvas of Exchanges

The role art plays in society as a tool of survival must be acknowledged. Art memorialises stories and draws attention to the social and the political

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IN the early hours of 6 January 2021, long before Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol, and when the world was still reeling from the horrors of the Covid-19 pandemic, a strange silence washed over me as I stared at my laptop screen, transfixed by the work of artist Kirtika Kain. Here was a visceral image of vast blackness with hints of gold and red glinting from beneath its powerful surface. Swirls of a tar-like substance glowed on my screen, held together by what seemed to resemble clay and cracked soil. The work emanated a certain resilience for reasons unknown to me at the time. It also spoke volumes for its aesthetic potency and careful use of colour and material.

I wondered about the title of the work, Jina Amucha, recalling a book with the same title. Eager to know more, I emailed Kirtika, mentioning that I was pursuing a doctorate in Art History and would like to discuss this work in more detail for inclusion in my thesis. Not only did she very kindly reply to my initial request for more information but she also generously offered me glimpses into her life as an artist from the Dalit diaspora. 

I mention my interaction with Kirtika to highlight the value and insight conversations with artists bring to art criticism and art writing. Through multiple exchanges, I learnt, for instance, that Jina Amucha was inspired by the seminal book with the same title (