Uma Ray – Journey inward - Journey outward / Cross Over / The Trail

Largely Uma’s works engages through words. During the initial presentation Anita Dube suggested her to read Jenny Holzer. In my opinion she engages in two modes. One is the monologue where in she revisits her thoughts and the other the interactive mode where she aligns the same with the community around. This reminds me of the artists Barbara Kruger and Martin Firrel apart from Jenny Holzer. But one should also notice that these artists’ works are not simply confessional or inward philosophical journeys but also powerful reflections on violence, war, class and gender hegemonies they focused upon. The individual in them undergo a shift when they are in association with the outside world.The use of the transparent medium that translates the thoughts of the people across is successful for words are also sometimes just the passages through which one gets to travel. The use of acrylic sheets for the mirror too is similarly impressive for one gets to see ones reflections merged and mingled within the jungle of words. At the same time despite the remarkable effects one gets to worry about the nature of the medium. Especially hailing from Shanthinikethan (the place that has eco friendly concerns in many walk) Uma should be aware of the politics behind using the plastic and acrylic sheet as her medium. Both are biodegradable and doest allow the passage of water once it is dumped under the earth. Though one is not surprised about it considering most of contemporary art works are produced with fiber glass and flex prints it is still worthwhile to give it a thought.

1. Journey inward - Journey outward
Uma Ray displays the tickets of her previous journey to Delhi and she records her linear thought processes on to a flex board. She believes that her journey thus comes to a full circle by recording her present visit on to it. She is trying to figure out through words both her subjective position that reflects on the outside world and the outside world in its authenticity visited by her.

2. Cross Over
This I would call as a project more than a work. Uma had invited the people from the Khoj village and asked them to record their expressions as an attempt of breaking the compound wall that separates the “Organization-Khoj” from the “Khirki Village”.

3. The Trail
This work attempts to look in to the traces of left behind in the residency. There will be a video projection on the roof that catches up certain interesting moments and personalities.