Unity

Priyesh Trivedi (1990) is a self-taught visual artist and designer from Mumbai. His work is largely inspired by the examination of popular culture and recontextualising it in a rather subverted and ironic way. He is also the creator of ‘Adarsh Balak’, a series of illustrations and comics which are a parody of the educational posters that were widespread in Indian schools in the 80's and 90's. The nostalgic visual subversion coupled with dark humour, made the series gain a cult following on social media. Priyesh has showcased his works at TIFA Working Studios, Pune, Gasworks, London, Crypt Gallery, London, amongst others. He was also listed in Forbes India’s 30 Under 30 in 2017.

As a continuation of his studio works within the Adarsh Balak series, Priyesh brought to life his first public art piece in Lodhi Colony. Using the same characters from educational posters that are now largely recognised as pop-culture references, the artist created a satirical piece that looks at the concept of ‘Unity’ in today’s society.

While his canvases are extremely provocative, for a public space such as the Lodhi Art District, he revisited his approach, without compromising on his signature irony and sarcasm. He also consciously chose to distance his practice from the notion of ‘beautification’, which he perceives as an unappealing trend within street art.

Therefore, his piece stands out for its ambiguous and disturbing character, highlighted by the deformity of the kids' bodies, which, while being playful, doesn’t take away from the genuinely relevant social message - of collective unity.

The contrast between the disturbing bodies and the positive message is a key takeaway from this piece, which aims to capture the public’s attention while encouraging a deeper awareness about our social interactions.