A lot of my work is digital. I mostly work on a screen. So, I’m intrigued by artists who explore alternative mediums in innovative ways. Yashwant Singh, a young artist – he was born in 1994 – does this well.

In his ongoing series, Yashwant uses his own body to create his art works. He adopts different postures and imprints himself on to the paper by using soot or lampblack. He covers himself in paint and throws himself on a canvas. His body, therefore, becomes both the subject of the work, as well as the tool to create it.

As Yashwant explains, “I am trying to search ‘Who is this body in my work? What is the politics of this figure?’ By extension, it becomes an inquiry into the self and the times this self cohabits with others…” He adds that anxieties, desires and bodily pleasures are common themes in his work. “Repetitiveness is constant in my process and yet it is not the same.”

Yashwant also creates these works in front of others, so his method takes on an element of being performative. One can see the final piece, while also seeing the process and the intention behind making it. The work is very captivating and compels you to look for intricate details that may not be immediately evident. In some works, the body may be lying on a field, while in others, the primary focus is simply on the placement of the hands in different positions. Some are embellished, others are not.

I first saw some of his works at Method in Kalaghoda, Mumbai, in 2022 and was immediately mesmerised by the little worlds within each piece. I love trying to put together the possible story behind each art work and how that particular piece was made.

This ability to create a story by inserting oneself into their art has drawn me to the work of other artists as well. Alvin Lucier’s audio work, I Am Sitting In A Room, records himself reciting poetry in a room. The recording is played back and re-recorded multiple times over 40 minutes to create a sound that exaggerates the natural frequencies of the room through his voice. Alvin has a stutter just like I do. It amazes me to see him use art, physics and technology to remedy his speech patterns, and create something that’s abstract and liminal.

French artist Gina Pane uses her body in intense and personal performances to explore pain and vulnerability. In her piece Azione Sentimentale, she inflicts self-harm in front of an audience. Her work, like Yashwant’s, transforms personal struggle into art, using the body.

The physicality of Yashwant’s work ties in with my work too. My goal is to make my interactive audio-based pieces physically tangible in some manner, while creating a cohesive story around them. In a way, Yashwant’s body art does that too. His work also inspires me to find a way to bring out the process involved in making my own work. It is fascinating to have on display the process it took to create a work of art within the work itself. I believe it’s a great way to connect with the viewer.

Read Also: sofa cum bed with storage: an in-depth guide to different types, benefits, and buying tips for choosing the perfect one