About A4ian time drifts by N. S. Harsha

In Harsha's "A4rian time drifts," people in a queue are depicted with surreal attributes, such as a donkey-headed figure or a three-headed woman's hand pushing deep into a mushroom-headed person's skin.

In this work, Harsha describes his creative process as an "automatic flow of drawing," emphasizing spontaneity over deliberate planning. The painting is segmented by a winding, blue river-like line. However, this line is actually riddled with A-4 paper, resembling a drifted curve. This curve mirrors the formation created when water pushes back what it brings ashore on beaches, thus inspiring the title of the work.

A4rian Time Drifts by N. S. Harsha

The painting "A4rian Time Drifts" features the term "A4rian," coined by the artist as an "homage" to A-4 paper, synonymous with documentation and bureaucracy. Harsha's experience standing in snaking queues, namely when he obtained his Aadhar Card, during demonetization for cash from ATMs, and acquiring a driver's license inspired his observations of people's actions while they waited. The artist contemplates the dystopian reality of needing to be patient and diligent to secure one's identity versus the paradox of that reality. 

Beyond the Artwork: The Art of N. S. Harsha

N. S. Harsha is an Indian contemporary artist renowned for his artistic prowess in paintings, site-specific installations, and sculptures that skillfully traverse the complexities arising from the interplay between the local and global, the traditional and contemporary, and the individual and collective realms. 

N. S. Harsha draws inspiration from a diverse range of Indian painting traditions, popular arts, and the Western canon to create thought-provoking and luminous artworks. His creations possess a quiet philosophical quality, inviting contemplation on geopolitical dynamics and our increasingly technology-driven connection with the world.

Through meticulously crafted paintings, works on paper, sculptures, site-specific installations, and public projects, the artist explores the intricate nature of structures, borders, and barriers. These elements are portrayed as fluid and ever-evolving concepts, suggesting an interconnectedness that urges viewers to reflect on their relationship with the artwork as part of a larger discourse surrounding systems of knowledge, belief, and power.

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