When mannequins talk

What do they say? Do they whine about the pricking of the dressmaker's pin or do they talk art?

When mannequins talk

These three dimensional lay figures say art knows no boundaries. The Mute Shall Talk, an art exhibition in the Capital offers mannequins as an unorthodox canvas to present the works of a group of artists from all over the country.

Mannequins took the form artworks at an exhibition called 'The Mute Shall Talk', bringing in artists from around the country. Pic/ Rajeev Tyagi

Curated by art critic and sculptor Renu Rana, the show displayed traditional, figurative, abstract and pop art works of artists like Vijender Sharma, Sanjay Bhattacharya, M.K.Puri, Nand Katyal, Umesh Verma, Sudip Roy, Indu Tripathy, Narshimlu, Narhari, Jayanta Khan and Nafisa Ali Sodhi among others.

Standing in a corner actor and social activist Nafisa Ali Sodhi’s artwork sported a French beard with a sequined snaked wrapped around, a bright red apple over it’s neck aptly suggesting Adam’s apple. “And do not miss the beetle;” says Nafisa, “this Adam is in touch with his feminine side.”

And then there is young artist Hungyo Tuiyarmi interpretation of the proverbial struggle between good and evil. “I used tobacco on one half of my mannequin and rice on the other to show the evil and good side of our existence,” says Tuiyarmi.

The unique art show was organised by Blue Art Gallery & Art Inc, New Delhi. Pic/Rajeev Tyagi

While Sidhant Gandhi’s Colour Catastrophe created with 300 used plastic bottles highlight the problem of environmental destruction loud and clear, Vijendra Vij’s chessboard with a fallen king at his mannequin’s feet leaves the artwork to your own convenient interpretation.

The French gave us papier-mache fashion mannequins and it was the French photographer Eugene Atget who infused life into them with his camera. Now Indian artist like Jayanta Khan and Hungyo Tuiyarmi are making them talk.

Fear of mannequins
The fear of mannequins or dolls is called Pediophobia. While Agalmatophilia is a paraphilia involving sexual attraction towards dolls, mannequins or figurative objects.
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