Event Calendar
The Art Side of Ambedkarism: Visual Resistance, Memory, and Imagination
Second Colloquium in VISUAL ARTS colloquium series Monsoon \'25
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Dear All,
The Department of Visual Arts is delighted to invite you to the second colloquium in the Visual Arts Colloquium Series, Monsoon 2025.
Title: The Art Side of Ambedkarism: Visual Resistance, Memory, and Imagination
Speaker: Siddhesh Gautam (@bakeryprasad)
Date: September 23rd, @1.30 pm
Venue: Visual Arts Studio (near sports block)
Abstract: This talk reflects on how Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s thought and vision inspire an ongoing visual vocabulary of resistance. I will explore how Ambedkarism has shaped not only the politics of social justice but also an aesthetic language of equality, dignity, and collective imagination. Through my practice of illustration, graphic storytelling, and public art, I will discuss how images can work as archives of people’s struggles, as acts of pedagogy, and as tools to dismantle caste hierarchies in everyday life. The session will also highlight how the anti-caste movement's legacy continues to guide creative practices that are not limited to elitist spaces, but rooted in the communities that live and sustain his vision.
Bio: Siddhesh Gautam (he/them) is a Delhi-based mixed-media artist, storyteller, and writer. His work explores caste, history, identity, and resistance, drawing on visual archives and personal memory to challenge dominant narratives. Through illustrations, poetry, and storytelling, he documents the struggles and dreams of marginalized communities. His practice seeks to return art to the people, grounding it in everyday lives rather than elitist spaces.
Join us for an engaging conversation over tea to discover how Ambedkar’s vision lives on in art, imagination, and everyday struggles.
Warm regards,
Visual Arts Department