CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART FOR THE ANTHROPOCENE ERA: TAKING CHARGE OF A DYING PLANET

Abstract [English]

This paper analyses how contemporary Indian art responds to the Anthropocene, an era marked by heightened impact of human actions on earth. It seeks to re-establish the role of humanities and arts in the face of an impending disaster by using the theoretical framework of Critical Posthumanism and Anthropocene Studies. Eco art engages with the current critical and philosophical debates on the Anthropocene, catering to the emotion of people and making them sensitive towards the concerns of the Anthropocene, at the same time paving the path for a more sustainable future. The first section of the paper analyses the sculptures and exhibits installed at India International Centre in January 2020 under the title “We are still Alive: Strategies in Surviving the Anthropocene”. A careful analysis of these installations shows that they speak volumes of meaning directly striking a chord with the observers. The second section analyses another form of visual arts which is comics. Rohan Chakravarty’s Green Humor for a Greying Planet is the perfect example of how humor and visual arts can combine to entertain, educate and initiate a big change. Along with Visual arts other formats like Music can also prove to be an essential medium of dealing with the Anthropocene. The third section analyses the Music of a Delhi-based artist Rafoo and how it responds to the Anthropocene. The aim of this research article is to provide critical observations on how artists can take charge to protect a dying planet.