Art of Kissing to Kiss of Love: Artist takes on taboo of kissing in public

NH7 weekender has become synonymous with indie music in India. Everyone wants to get tickets for it given that each venue automatically turns into a giant party site. If you’re a music lover, you’re probably gearing up for the upcoming Delhi chapter of the NH7 weekender which starts on 29 November, which is this Saturday. [caption id=“attachment_1826387” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image courtesy: Ayushman Mitra[/caption] However NH7 isn’t all about the music. The festival organisers have invited various artists to showcase their art installations as well. One of them is Ayushman Mitra. His art installation called ‘The Art of Kissing’ comes at a time when India has been seeing Kiss of Love protests all over the country as young people lock lips to protest against right-wing moral policing. As an artist Mitra is inspired by Indian mythology, doesn’t rely on computers to create his work and calls himself a ‘maximist.’ Firstpost spoke to Mitra over email about his art work, his inspirations, his love for big art and Indian mythology and how he hopes his work will be perceived in the current times. Here’s an edited version of his responses. [caption id=“attachment_1826371” align=“alignleft” width=“620”]  Image courtesy: Ayushman Mitra[/caption] On ‘The Art of Kissing’ and the inspiration behind this work: Mitra describes his work as “the motif of a human split face that seems to be engaged in a lip lock…the split face symbolises the different facets of one’s personality and the lip lock stands for acceptability of one’s true self.” According to Mitra the inspiration is “from love between two humans” and it’s “irrespective of gender or age”. With a theme like kissing Mitra adds that he’s also talking about liberation and sexuality as well. “The work represents the wish and the will to be able kiss irrespective of one’s surrounding,” he says. Same-sex love stories are also portrayed in some of the installations. With his giant installations he’s hoping the audience will interact with them, “not just view it from the outside”. “We wanted to have fun with colours and the scale of the art…thus it is all about being in love, being happy and having a trippy time,” he says. [caption id=“attachment_1826373” align=“alignleft” width=“620”]  Image courtesy: Ayushman Mitra[/caption] Kiss of Love protests and his installation: Mitra says that it is a coincidence that the ‘Kiss Of Love’ protest happened during the same time the festival opened in Kolkata. He says, “I am glad that people are talking about kissing, But I do not fully agree with the way the protest was executed. I mean the police is a part of our society, the society that makes these morals are our own family, friends and neighbours. If we can start talking about it at our homes, it will make a big difference. If we could kiss in public during a family event and people were okay with it…this is where my victory lies.” He adds that he’s not trying to force something down anyone’s throat but instead trying to “make people feel comfortable with seeing images of kissing forms.” He admits that none of the views against public kissing are going to change overnight. [caption id=“attachment_1826383” align=“alignleft” width=“620”]  Image courtesy: Ayushman Mitra[/caption] Indian mythology and marrying such themes into contemporary art: Mitra says that. India is the only nation that speaks about sexuality and spirituality from the same platform and that “our culture is drowned in love stories of erotic romance.” “From God to man and even animals mythology and folklore have always even very expressive because it is so soaked with lila thoughts. That is why I find my inspiration in mythology…all the morality was only bought in by men during the middle ages,” he says. He points out that if our gods were comfortable stealing clothes of women and then charm those women, then our version of what is contemporary and what is ancient needs to be questioned. “We are the only country that is going backwards where social growth is concerned and the excuse used to go so by extremists is ‘God’. Well then I am trying to use their weapon against them,” he says. [caption id=“attachment_1826385” align=“alignleft” width=“620”]  Image courtesy: Ayushman Mitra[/caption] On being a maximist and not using computers: Mitra admits it does get tiring to create big installations but he’s adamant that he won’t have his “art turned into a factory-churned product.” He says he truly admires graphic artists but the only way he’s learnt to create something is with this hands. “If I was good with computers…I would some to do some work. Right now I good with working at my pace…Hands give me complete control…It does take time, but if I am paid as much as I think I should be paid…I am okay with it,” he says. Ayushman Mitra’s art installation be showcased at the Delhi NH7 weekender which takes place on 29 and 30 November.