KMB artist Kulpreet Singh’s work a narrative of ground realities of agrarian, ecological and social fractures

Kulpreet Singh’s Indelible Black Marks (2022–ongoing) is a powerful, immersive work that situates farming practices—particularly stubble burning—within the broader histories of the Green Revolution and its ecological and social consequences.

Core Narrative
- The installation at Anand Warehouse, Mattancherry envelops viewers in a sooty, smoky atmosphere, echoing the lived reality of farmers.
- Singh and fellow farmers run with long canvases trailing behind, evoking protest marches and cycles of violence against land, air, water, and people.
- The film juxtaposes fire and water, sirens and chants, life and mortality—creating a visceral dialogue on ecological imbalance and social fractures.

Philosophical & Spiritual Dimensions
- Singh invokes the Gurbani line: “Pavan Guru, Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat”—air as teacher, water as father, earth as mother—underscoring farming as a spiritual act, not merely resource extraction.
- Ash becomes a metaphor: both mortality and renewal, a reminder of what fills our “inner pockets” and how clarity and compassion must replace neglect.

Artistic Practice
- His soot-ridden paintings, burnt stalks, and film are inseparable from his farming roots.
- Singh sees farming and art as acts of seva (service)—cultivation for collective well-being, whether through food or cultural dialogue.
- The practice of langar (community kitchen) is referenced as a living example of equality and care, contrasted with the ecological disruption of monocropping and chemical-intensive agriculture.

Broader Significance
- The work critiques the Green Revolution’s legacy—soil depletion, groundwater exhaustion, and precarious farmer livelihoods.
- It situates Punjab’s farming struggles within global contexts, noting that stubble burning persists even in developed countries due to limited alternatives.
- Ultimately, Singh calls for a “humane revolution”—slowing down, reimagining society with justice, gentleness, and ecological balance.