Introduction
In a recent interview with the Abir Pothi’s team, Siraj Saxena revealed his stance on identity in the art world. Signing a masterpiece is often the ultimate mark of identity in the art world, a claim on the legacy of an artist. However, artist with an eccentric bent of mind, in this case Siraj Saxena is breaking through these stereotypes. In an exclusive chat, Saxena talks about his artistry and how he shies away from the conventional signatures on his canvas. It has to do with immortality, succession and the real nature of creativity — a statement as audacious in its own way as his total resistance to what goes on in the rest of the art world. Here is why he thinks his art speaks more than his name.
“Why Siraj Saxena Refuses to Sign His Own Artwork”
In an era where artists are becoming obsessed with personal branding, Siraj Saxena is one of the few who takes his own medicine and allows his works to be the face. He also questions the vanity of signing on canvases and declares, “Agar Khajuraho ke mandir ka naam malum nahi toh phir mera chitra kun se naam wala hoga.”
But an outright refusal to put his name on the work is a more radical move, playing with ideas of what makes up an artistic legacy. He thinks great art has a soul that extends beyond the artist’s identity and so believes his work is immortal enough that he doesn’t needs to assign it a byline. “Even after we pass, our art remains,” he says, evoking his point about the timelessness of art — its value is in how it appeals intergenerationally rather than to the name attached.
“Art Should Create Its Own Story”: Rejecting Pre-Defined Concepts
Which leads us to another key aspect of SAXENA: his signature, or lack thereof. He is as scathing of artists who start with a story or an idea and work towards their medium. “Art must be narrative unto itself,” he scoffs at the notion that art should adhere to or be derived from prefaces. This, to him is an abuse of the medium, removing some of the spontaneity and authenticity from being creative.
What might seem like a controversial opinion during a time in our art-world where conceptual art is king, to Saxena idea of pre-designing that narrative for an artwork instead of letting it inspire one itself seems as stifling. He collaborates with the material, going as far as to let it dictate him in a way, often clay but textile also and wood. “Art has its own story to tell, I am just a mere artist,” he says.
Beyond the Medium: Saxena’s Larger-than-Life Installations
Saxena is a rebel not just in his artistic philosophy. His next installation, created using stitched-together leather pieces will be yet another scheduled defiance of traditional art ideals. Using more traditional materials like wood, leather and textiles, Saxena has taken bolder decisions in his art through a desire to experiment and escape the wheels of the mainstream.
What sets Saxena apart from other artists in the scene today, is this unwillingness to conform himself to tradition. He lives his art, not merely creates. His palette is as wide-ranging as his media — from painting, to clay work, to enormous textile installations. Art is a never-ending playground for Saxena, an infinite place to experiment and move beyond the utilitarian.
Immortality Through Art: “Our Life Is Not Just 70 Years”
Saxena’s work may not carry his name, but he is fully conscious of the legacy he is building. In a careful reflection, he draws inspiration from historical artists whose identities remain unknown. “We don’t know who carved the sculptures of Khajuraho, yet their work is immortal,” he explains. To him, art lives beyond the artist’s lifespan, with its impact living on long after the creator is gone.
“Our life isn’t just 70 or 80 years long,” Saxena muses. “As long as our art is seen, we remain alive.” This belief in the immortality of art leads Saxena to reject the need for a personal recognition. Instead, he focuses on creating work that resonates across time, allowing future generations to engage with his creations without the burden of knowing who he was.
“Not With Words”: A Tribute to Kunwar Narayan
Saxena has dedicated his forthcoming show “Not with Words” for the legendary poet Kunwar Narayan. Picking one such line by Narayan, Saxena turned the thought of the poet into his own art – making literature together with wire look so beautiful while doing equal justice to both.
The bond Saxena has with Narayan’s words isn’t just of the kind one affords intellectual admiration. The poet’s monumental portraits hanged at the gallery of Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal where he first read his writing touched him deeply. Nearly sixty years later, as an artist, Saxena utilizes their art form to mirror the fundamental simplicity of Narayan’s words.
