The Riot

Sudhir Patwardhan is best known for his animated depiction of tumultuous urban life. His figures activate, rather demand a response from the viewer.

A realist representation of urban violence, ‘Riot’ captures a moment waiting to burst in to flames at the slightest provocation. The work is characterized by its setting in an underprivileged, working class district. The tough posture of the muscular figures clearly states their working class origins and also of the hostility ready to erupt. The tension and the fear lurking, is blatantly obvious in the way the figures are grouped.