Madan lal's recent works focus on fake lifestyles and changing priorities in the modern world. He shares details with Divya Kaushik
Apart from kettle, watches, steering wheels and hazy human forms everything else appears like blots of paint on the canvas. It might give an idea that someone while toying with many ideas in his head has come up with these paintings which are neither figurative nor abstract. But Madan lal reveals that merging forms and layers of colours define the confusion that is part of contemporary world. “No one exactly knows what do they want to achieve and why do they want to achieve it. Is it just because of social or any other kind of pressure that they want it or they really will be happy to achieve thatIJ There is so much of chaos in each of our lives that we do not get time to think over it,” says Madan of his works which will be displayed at Shridharani Art Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam from November 1 to 10. The Chandigarh-based artist has titled his works as Urban Mirage. This is third in the series. His earlier works were titled Urban Emotions and Urban Mythology. “I want to bring out a phenomenon which is in front of all of us but only a few care to notice it. The reason I call the exhibition Urban Mirage is because I feel we all are living in a desert (world devoid of emotions, love and happiness) and the oasis is just a misconception. We all think that since everyone in this world is running after money and other materialistic joys, even we need to run after it. We spend our lives in achieving it and then finally when we have money, property and everything that we aspired for, we realise there is no happiness and contentment,” says the artist. He also adds that Mirage also depicts the “man who has turned into an ascetic, after breaking away from the world of materialism that is chasing him as a bird. He seems desperate to search the reflection of self, in the blue water.” Interestingly, Madan leaves it to the viewers to follow the quest and find the answer to the reflection that eludes like a mirage.
Though deeply philosophic in content pertaining to purpose of life, Madan’s works do not have any melancholic effect and are rather visually appealing. Despite having travelled internationally, he has remained rooted to his heritage and has been deeply inspired by the tradition of colourful embroidered fabric, phulkari. He has liked the art and embroidery since his childhood. Just as is done in phulkari, he has woven the life philosophy on the canvas painted with many shades. The bright colours that you see on his canvas are also inspired from the colourful threads that are used on the phulkari.
About the use of many objects, like Kettle, steering wheel and watch, in his works, he says that they have been used as a symbol to define how we are tied to various materialistic objects. “Objects are often an integral part of my works. In fact, in my earlier series I explored how human beings are more attached to the objects that they use and not with the people they live with. For example, we will find people who might be living with friends but more than those friends they might be attached to objects that they use in the house. like a coffee mug,” he says.