He is a baker, an artist, a visual designer, and an illustrious storyteller, this Pune/Delhi-based artist has a clever take on our India and its politics. This is the story of Siddhesh Gautam whose surrealistic and minimal works of art reflect the different atrocities that plague our Indian society such as works on caste inequality, inefficiencies in the Indian healthcare system, and other social and political events across the country and globally.
Artist’s Outline
Known on Instagram as @bakeryprasad, Pune/Delhi-based illustrator Siddhesh Gautam is an ‘art baker’ who uses his art to attack the government and convey stories. Gautam deftly conveys his dissatisfaction with the current administration by drawing inspiration from the Dadaist movement, which arose during World War I as a protest against the aestheticism of capitalist society and the nationalism that led to war. His surrealistically infused works seek to subvert the status quo and foster critical thinking among his audience. Gautam bravely tackles issues of caste inequality and criticises the accumulation of capital in the hands of a few, advocating an ideal society without turning to pseudo-reality by channeling the spirit of Ambedkar.
Siddhesh, the Ambedkarite
Speaking about his art, Siddhesh says “Using digital tools, I create images that represent the voice of the downtrodden across the world. The moving thoughts of pioneering leaders like B R Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule have shaped my idea of social justice and individual freedom. The use of simple lines and an austere colour palette enables me to emphasise the need to establish equality and non-discrimination in our society.” (as stated in an article by Dhi Artspace). He is a multidisciplinary mixed media artist who graduated from The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Mumbai in 2014 and then graduated from the National Institute of Design, Gandhinagar. He then continued to work in a design studio in Pune and then moved to Delhi.
As stated above, he is an Amberkerite, he hopes to take the legacy of BR Ambedkarite to every Indian household. He has worked on a graphic novel on the Dalit movement, and a handbook full of informative artworks showcasing the current state of Dalit affairs in the country. It’s a collection of numerous stories, portraits, rants, and complaints, compiled in a format deemed ‘decent’ and ‘non-preposterous’ by society. It’s a compilation of many voices unified in a tone that isn’t perceived as ‘shouting’. It’s an assembly of various ideologies from the same community that doesn’t lead to any particular ‘ism’. It’s a collection of grievances that are unlikely to impact our ‘future’. “As I got more aware and inspired by the social fabric and the Dalit movement, it started to reflect upon my work. I had read or at least have tried to read Ambedkar as a kid too but it wasn’t very effective until now. As my skills of visual communication got better, it seemed the best way to share what I’ve been learning all this time. I am still learning the process of creating awareness.” the artist says to feminism India in an interview discussing the handbook and his artistic work.
Nonconformist Art in the Digital Space
He is believed to have been inspired by many popular art movements, minimalism being a key one. He has also been mesmerised by the works of Banksy, Hippies, Guerilla Girls, and many modernist thinkers such as Jacques Derrida, Foucault, and Douglas Kellner. The colour blue has a huge role to play in his artworks, as he has a personal connection with the shade of colour. His family has always cherished the blue shade of the Ambedkarite movement, while he prefers a hue that leans toward teal green. Fascinated by this colour, it naturally found its way into his work. In an interview with The Patriot, he states “When I started creating illustrations related to the movement, I realised that this specific blue could have many variations, much like the sub-divisions within the community,” he explains. He founded and named his Instagram handle ‘Bakery Prasad’ simply because he hoped to make art as appealing as baked delicacies and of course because he loved baked goods. It changed from “Products” to “Prasad” after I read Munshi Premchand’s Godaan — his story about Dhankar Rai Shrivastava becoming Nawab Rai and later Munshi Premchand. Also, “Bakery Prasad” sounds quite futuristic to me,” says the rebel artist in another interview with Indian Cultural Form.
Siddhesh Gautam emerges as a resistance artist whose work is highly influenced by his personal experiences and the social fabric of his upbringing in a poor town. His approach to mixed-media art, design, writing, and storytelling is multidisciplinary and reflects a multidimensional and intricate artistic personality that is difficult to pin down. Siddhesh provokes thought and inquiry in his audience by subverting conventional narratives with his artwork. His style, which reminds one of old publications and comic books, combines modern politics with eternal relevance. Siddhesh Gautam keeps a lighthearted online presence while tackling serious subjects like hegemony and discrimination, which gives his artistic identity a distinctive touch.
References
- https://indianculturalforum.in/2020/09/04/digital-art-bakery-prasad-siddhesh-gautam/
- https://thepatriot.in/profile/shades-of-blue-why-art-is-a-natural-outlet-for-activism-28062
- https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/i-exist-hence-i-resist-sign-up-for-a-workshop-intersecting-activism-art-identity
- https://www.stirworld.com/see-features-art-voices-matter-bakeryprasad-a-k-a-siddhesh-gautam-on-the-dalit-movement
- https://feminisminindia.com/2020/11/18/siddhesh-gautam-aka-bakeryprasad-anatomy-art-baker/
- https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-explore/siddhesh-gautam-s-satirical-illustrations-are-sparking-much-needed-political-conversations.
