Symphony of Art and Earth | Gyanwant Yadav

Originating from Chandpur, Dist. Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, the Yadav’s work spans various forms—painting, performance, and installation. He sees these mediums as threads woven together to interpret the field as a well of inspiration. His interest lies in the magic that happens when these mediums interact silently, blending with the rhythms of agriculture that surround his observations. The colours and shapes in the field, influenced by the seasons and the labour put into the land, serve as his inspiration.

“Yadav creates art inspired by nature, deeply rooted in indigenous tradition. His work enriches the human experience and deepens our engagement with the mysteries of life and art.”

His creative journey starts with gathering materials, much like peeling back layers in a city where walls are covered with posters, bills, and graffiti. Each layer reveals something new, inspiring him to recreate the lines, colours, textures, and spaces that catch his attention. The field, with its boundaries, fences, mud formations, and harvest mounds, plays a crucial role in Yadav’s process of collecting and distilling the essence of the place.

“I enjoy experimenting with each of these mediums in an effort to see what they produce in conversation with each other as well as how they interact with the agricultural practices that I study and observe around me.”

Digging deeper, his research extends to the tools used in agricultural practices, which he views as social connectors. He is fascinated by how these tools change based on geographic and demographic differences. Yadav is particularly interested in the subtle variations in tool shapes and types across regions and how they affect different agricultural methods. In his exploration, he also considers the silent influence of gender and caste, which become important aspects of his artistic narrative. Through the lens of tools and their functions, his art continues to have a nuanced conversation with the field and its many ecosystems.

“The shapes and lines that I see in the field—boundary lines, fences, triangles of mud, the squares of fields, the abstract mounds of hay and harvest—become indispensable to my process of collecting the site and what it produces.”

By interweaving these diverse elements, Yadav creates a rich tapestry that reflects the complexity of rural life and its inherent beauty. His work transcends mere observation, offering a profound commentary on the interconnectedness of nature, culture, and human endeavour. The result is a body of work that echoes deeply with both personal and collective histories.

“Through tools and their functions, I have also looked at gender and caste as realities that create important intersections within my practice that continues to dialogue with the field and its many ecologies.”

View Gyanwant Yadav’s Collection