Discerning Dialogue

2nd Issue
Art : As Reaction Or Act In Itself

Editorial by: Noor Aziza 

We are at a juncture of defining or rather creating pathways for ourselves where we could look at artistic interventions as part of a larger structure. These interventions today certainly come from an individual level of art making. A few decades ago, however, the characteristics already evident in these early productions were the result of the collaboration between the artists as an attempt to work together while following some similar agenda. This sense of sharing and collective creation is one of the main reasons for the cohesion of artists who subsequently joined these groups which were formed as a reaction to specific socio-cultural advancements of the time.

The decade of 90s witnessed a change in the scenario where these socio-political agenda began to fall apart in the field of art as well in all other fields. The tremendous economic forces changed the structure and form of the act of art creation as technology became the key in the act of making. The role of artists also transformed and that is the reason why this question becomes relevant today: whether art is a reaction or is an act in itself? Therefore, the second issue of Discerning dialogue focuses on the inert processes of creating art. The title certainly creates a dilemma, as there is always subjectivity to an issue that we need to take into consideration while deliberating upon the issue of art and art making. This binary opposition mentioned in the title, one wonders whether to look at art as an ‘action’ or a ‘reaction’ to something else that exists outside the realm of art. This definitely arises from the question what role does art play in the society. Since creativity is a complex process with relationships among people, processes, products, and social and cultural contexts relevant to a domain of knowledge, it propels the complex and subversive nature of art.

In this issue, the contributors have discussed the issue from personal as well as philosophical point of view. As practicing artists, most of them face this situation on a day to day basis where they have to deal with the issues of relevance of their artistic practice in the contemporary world. The bilingual nature of the e-zine has also given the writers to write in Hindi as one could see in this issue. Some of the articles may seem like diary notes or jottings, but I feel that is the nature of the process of creativity which should be given some space in the world of art writing.