Addressing the urgency of the agrarian crisis, Punjab Lalit Kala Academy in Chandigarh presents ‘Farmer is a Wrestler,’ an exhibition by Delhi based artists Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra. The exhibition addresses agrarian crisis faced by farmers in India. The exhibition shall open with the artists’ presentation at 5:15 pm on Feb 20, 2019 and shall be there from 21 Feb to March 5.
Using the metaphor of sport and game, the exhibition draws parallels with kushti — the traditional Indian wrestling popular among rural communities. The wrestling bout depicts physical and mental struggle, endurance and resilience, which are symbolic of the farmer fighting for his life against the agrarian crisis.
Over the years, generational divisions of land, climate change, vote bank politics, a lack of implementation of law and the general deficit of formal education in rural communities has severely affected the lives and livelihoods of Indian farmers.
As natives of Punjab, Thukral and Tagra examine their own histories and memories to address the socio-cultural changes most visible in their home state. This exhibition carries forward the artists’ use of “games” as a tool to address complex issues through interactive and playful means. Their approach intends to give viewers a sense of nostalgia and comfort, while challenging the status quo.
