Defining leadership, through painting
How would you define a ‘leader’? As someone who worked tirelessly to bring freedom and sovereignty to people, or as someone who led the way to show others the path to salvation, or as someone who guards our borders night and day to guard our borders? Bringing together multifarious definitions of the term is the exhibition, The Leader, curated by Erum Khan.
Elaborating on the theme of the exhibition, Khan says, “Who is a leader? A trendsetter, a pioneer, a role model, who, in the pursuit of excellence and commitment to a cause, rises to the occasion and inspires people by setting an example, braving all obstacles and hurdles. Though many received only posthumous recognition, and many remained unrecognised and unsung. This exhibition is to provide recognition to such leaders.”
Artists Jyoti Singh, among the 28 participating artists, and who will present her acrylics on canvas, says, According to me, a leader is someone who can bring together all the people, the mass, without differentiating between them, someone who possesses the strength to bring a change in the society. And for me, Lord Krishna is the one. All my artwork for this theme is inspired by him. He, kind of, started a campaign in his time to set people on the right path and that is what a leader stands for.”
Hari Singh, another participating artist, says, “Those who fought against the evils of society and dedicated themselves to the welfare of the masses, are known as leaders. And no one else could fit better than Guru Gobind Singh. He is my man for this theme.”
However, artist Archana Panda’s artwork talks about Kargil martyr, Captain Vikram Batra. “A leader should be a person who walks the talk. And there are many who deserves that honour but never came into limelight. They are the unsung heroes and Captain Batra is the right man for this theme,” she says.