Gandhi, 1997

The diminutive size of this work by Shibu Natesan (1966, India) belies the stature of the man portrayed therein. ‘Gandhi’ forms part of a suite of paintings entitled ‘Missing’, realized during Natesan’s residency at the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam, in which he embraced photorealism for the first time. Often seeking inspiration for his work in photography, Natesan is not concerned with repainting photographs. For him, it is the process of painting itself, the re-working and slight manipulation of the source images, and the thoughts that arise from doing so that are important. Characterized by a dichotomous sense of directness and detachment, Natesan’s canvasses are not only a testimony to history. They draw the viewer in, and in the case of ‘Gandhi’ cause us to reflect upon the still relevant values for which Mahatma Gandhi stood: non-violence, respect and independence.