Art as Resistance and Recall

Sunil Sharma

-What art makes us see, and therefore gives to us in the form of 'seeing', 'perceiving' and 'feeling' (which is not the form of knowing,) is the ideology from which it is born, in which it bathes, from which it detaches itself as art, and which it alludes.

---Louis Althusser

This month's picture prompt comes from the distinguished scholar and artist Mustafa Dhada who has created a niche for himself in the field of art as resistance and recall, an important field of study and expression, largely neglected, these days, in a market economy that promotes fantasy and kitsch, as dominant forms of artistic communication.

Titled "Damaged-Not destroyed" the sculpture captures a pivotal moment in the ongoing story of human civilization; a key moment in the progress of spirit over difficult terrains in forward journey, an existential realization, an important awareness---that humans can never be destroyed, they tend to bounce back, come what may.

Hemingway's iconic statement that man can be defeated but never destroyed echoes a similar statement, feeling, mood; especially in the dark periods of world wars or during dark hours of personal crises, and Hemingway hero typically undertakes actions, in face of strong tempests or hostile conditions, to emerge victorious in spirit, never ready to give up.

Professor Mustafa---historian and artist par excellence---uncovers the same enduring mantra, a fitting tribute to human resilience and spirit, the innate capacity to rise up and re-script their destinies---individual, collective, through meaningful and historical praxis.

We were pointed towards his direction by the frequent contributor, Marjorie Pezzoli, a sensitive poet and silk artist.

Talking of Dhada as an influence, Pezzoli says in an emailed note that

…Dhada is a scholar extraordinaire, a historian who documents the atrocities of war, an author, and an award winning sculptor... He is an incredible person with the most interesting background, able to see beauty in the world despite seeing the worst results of conflict slaughter.

decisive marks
the hope of survivors
uncovering -retelling stories
- Marjorie Pezzoli

Art mobilised for documenting historical injustices, massacres and other atrocities, for bringing them to light and igniting conversations in an age of commercialization, an age of amnesia, by a deeply involved artist in community, in history and public memory, such an art constitutes a bold and audacious move by a person who refuses to forget the horrors of colonial and imperial powers inflicted on their subject nations.

Such an art, such an artist, art becomes a powerful medium for raising consciousness; a war against deliberate erasure by neo-imperialist forces.

It is writing back, inserting the lost moments into narratives of power and control operating within culture industry of advanced capitalism.

Setu feels privileged in featuring one of his sculptors---and plans to do more in coming months---as a point of reference for our writers, the ones keen to have a dialogue with picture prompts.

You will not be disappointed.

Rest of the edition is equally engrossing!

Setu completes nine years this June.

Happy birthday!
The bilingual journal is in the 10 year of monthly bilingual production, thanks to your loving patronage and blessings.

Please enjoy!

Sunil Sharma,

Managing Editor, Setu (English)

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Setu, June 2025