Anant Joshi

- Born in 1969,  Nagpur, Maharashtra, India

- Lives and works in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Vigorously enlivened and affected by the 1980s, a time of rapidly developing worldwide private enterprise, political change, eminent abundance contrasts, worldwide broad communications and unmistakable music and design, including electronic popular music and hip hop, Anant Joshi started articulating the darker side of development in his works–his paintings as well as his installations reflect a juxtaposition of dark and humorous approaches towards development and cultural deracination.

His works could be seen well when perused as a result of a culture of abundance. Anant's work produces a perusing of uneasiness he can make working with the overabundance of interest and supply of visuality. Joshi’s mastery over space helps him project three-dimensionality even in flat surfaces and while identity and belonging are recurring themes in his works–he also works with an eclectic mix of toys and cartoons. Joshi's affinity for toys and cartoons is remarkable. He discovered this affinity while attending the residency program at Rijks akademie in Netherlands. His use of mini readymade objects and the colourful patterns painted over each box marks a resemblance to still animation or puppetry. Each box is lit up while the room is darkened, creating a museum like space within a single work. The box containing an aspect of display like display windows adds to the visual aspect of the work.

By using found objects and toys to create huge numbers or give the installation volume, he makes a very important argument about the sinister side of wars, urban change and a western notion of development while being aware of this political turbulence around the globe and uses his medium to make it prominent. Joshi combines the exhibition of his art with the dim viciousness that emerges from a commonplace acknowledgment of ordinary metropolitan life and consequently the artist baits the viewer enticingly into the sensational venues of public and private dissent.

Anant Joshi, 12×12 Inches, Dry Pastel and Ink on Paper, 2018 (each)

Anant Joshi, Aorta, Photograph, 17 x 16 in

Anant Joshi, Carcas of Spider, Acrylic on Canvas, 6×4 feet

Anant Joshi, Long Happy Hours - Thereby Happiness- Ext 22, 2006, oil on canvas, 59.5 x 56” 

Anant Joshi, May Look Closer Than they Appear #1, mixed media and gold leaf on canvas 131 x 262 cm

Anant Joshi, Painting 03 2007, acrylic on canvas, 115 x 165 cm

Anant Joshi, Untitled, 2009, acrylic on canvas, 45.8 x 65”

Anant Joshi, Untitled, Mixed Media on Paper, 23 x 23 cm

Anant Joshi, Happy New Year (detail), 2013, fiberglass box, mirror, steel, resin, acrylic, industrial paint, kite paper, led lights, readymade objects, etc, 19 x 15 x 18”

Anant Joshi_Sun after Hundred Zeroes 2000, gouache and dry pastel pn paper, 45.7 x 66 cm