SEMIOTICS AS AN ANALYTICAL TOOL FOR INTERPRETING SYMBOLS IN VISUAL COMMUNICATION IN MODERN INDIAN PAINTINGS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v14.i2SCE.2026.6751Keywords:
Semiotics, Visual Communication, Symbolism in Art, Modern Indian Paintings, Visual Meaning, Meaning-Making, Qualitative Visual AnalysisAbstract [English]
Visual communication in modern Indian paintings relies heavily on symbols to convey meanings that go beyond simple or literal representation. These symbols come from various sources, such as cultural memories, mythology, personal gender experiences, social and political conditions, and the personal stories of artists. Together, these elements create a strong visual language through which modern Indian art shares ideas, emotions, and social issues. This paper examines semiotics as a tool for interpreting symbols in visual communication, specifically in modern Indian paintings.
The study builds on the semiotic theories of Ferdinand de Saussure and Charles Sanders Peirce, focusing on how visual signs create meaning through representation and interpretation. Using a qualitative research approach, the study conducts semiotic analysis on selected modern Indian artworks to explore the symbolic roles of colour, form, line, space, and imagery. Artists like S. H. Raza, V. S. Gaitonde and F. N. Souza use abstraction and expressive distortion to express themes of spirituality, identity, and existential struggle. Meanwhile, women artists such as Arpita Singh, Gogi Saroj Pal, and Nalini Malani use symbolic imagery to tackle issues of gender, memory, mythology, and social critique. Their artworks show how personal experiences and shared cultural symbols intersect, creating layered and complex visual meanings within modern Indian visual communication.
The study highlights the viewer's active role in meaning-making, where interpretation is shaped by cultural background, visual awareness, and personal experiences. The findings indicate that semiotics provides a clear and effective framework for understanding the intricate symbolic systems found in modern Indian paintings. By placing modern Indian art within a semiotic and visual communication context, this research contributes to interdisciplinary discussions and underscores the continuing importance of symbolic interpretation in understanding contemporary visual expression at both national and global levels.
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