Debashish Paul is an Indian multi-disciplinary artist known for his unique performance style. His multi-expressionist practice involves various mediums such as drawings and paintings, sculpture, performance, video and photography that address questions of sexuality and identity. Alluring and haunting at the same time, through his work, Paul explores the possibilities for repair, reconciliation, and consolation with a profound sense of identity and spirituality that is devised through dialogues with the self, society and nature. Paul situates personal freedom (which he finds elusive) at the heart of his practice, making it an excess for the sectarian, hierarchical and heteronormative society.
This synthesis of personal experiences and cultural influences underscores the intricate interplay between artistic expression and spiritual foundations in Paul’s creative journey, emphasising the spiritual over the physical. His works reflect a strong emancipation of self, gender and sexuality. The social, sexual and emotional behaviour of a body is codified through generational conditioning and discipline; they are overloaded with the axioms of religion, faith and culture. Paul transcends his body beyond its barriers, creating a hypnotic, inclusive, and non-alienating space. Often reminiscent of ritualistic and shamanic practices, Paul’s performances possess an enlightening essence, transforming his body into a locus of healing and solace. His performances, akin to elevated rituals, confer a temporal separation, briefly extricating both performer and audience from the mundane trappings of everyday life. This temporal disjunction creates an immersive space, offering a respite from the mundane and fostering a profound connection between the artist and the onlookers.
Varanasi, where Paul has been living for the last few years, is one of Hinduism’s most important holy sites. The city’s cultural milieu, the spiritual traditions, and familial ties to spirituality have moulded Paul’s performance style and philosophical base. His deep admiration for his elder brother, a Hindu monk, contributes significantly to the spiritual layers of his artistic expressions.
