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Seeds of Change: The Agrarian Narratives of Umesh S.

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For Bihar-born multidisciplinary artist Umesh S., the fields are his canvas, and farming tools, his muse. Uncover how he uses art to celebrate and critique agrarian traditions through this exclusive film and interview.

As one of the Artists-in-Residence at India Art Fair Delhi 2025, Umesh S. shines with his groundbreaking practice that uniquely intertwines art and agriculture. Working primarily in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and his ancestral village, Kurmurhi, in Bhojpur, Bihar, Umesh’s work emerges from the heart of rural India. His practice engages with the fragility of ecological systems, the disappearance of seeds, and the erosion of agrarian traditions.

“I hunt for indigenous knowledge, materials, processes, and tools,” Umesh explains. His art practice is grounded in a deep respect for traditional agricultural methods and a curiosity about the ways urbanisation reshapes rural life. Through his sculptures, drawings, and installations, Umesh seeks to preserve and reimagine the legacy of farming cultures.

Umesh S in the process of creating an artwork with clay among the locals in Paradsingha, for FICA’s AgriFoum residency.

“Unexpected shapes and patterns often emerge during my sculptural process, which keeps my practice alive and exploratory”

Umesh’s artistic process is intrinsically tied to his environment. His studio spaces often extend beyond four walls, incorporating the fields and landscapes that inspire his work. “Materials play an important role in my work, so I am constantly on the hunt for new ones,” he shares. This includes parasitic woods, farming implements, and natural elements that speak to the agrarian ethos.

One of his most significant works, Uncomfortable Tools, was showcased at the 2018 Kochi-Muziris Biennale as part of the Student’s Biennale, while he was completing his MFA from S.N School of Arts & Communication, University of Hyderabad. By merging farming tools with parasitic woods collected on campus, Umesh created a thought-provoking commentary on the relationship between utility and obsolescence in agriculture. “Unexpected shapes and patterns often emerge during my sculptural process, which keeps my practice alive and exploratory,” he says.

Umesh S, Suffocation in Occupation, 2018, Cyanotype Print, 8.3 x 11.7 inches.

A deep engagement with agrarian themes is central to Umesh’s practice. He reflects on the loss of indigenous seeds and the knowledge systems tied to them, emphasising how these changes affect livelihoods and identities. “Many families in my area have abandoned farming,” he notes. These shifts resonate with his personal experiences, as his own farming lineage has been disrupted by urban migration and industrialised agriculture.

Umesh credits his formative influences to artists like Ramkinkar Baij and Navjot Altaf, whose works blend social consciousness with material exploration. Like them, Umesh finds power in the narratives of marginalised communities and the ecosystems they inhabit. His fascination with poetry about agrarian life, the migration of labourers, and the preservation of traditional tools further enrich his multidisciplinary approach.

Although having spent the last four years in Varanasi, Umesh draws little inspiration from urban life. “Cities make me feel constrained,” he admits. Instead, his creativity thrives on the peripheries of urban spaces, in rural landscapes where stories and traditions abound. Travelling to these areas enables him to connect deeply with farming communities, preserving their practices through his art.

In today’s fast-paced world, Umesh’s art serves as a poignant reminder of what is at stake when traditions fade. His work celebrates the resilience of rural knowledge systems while inviting viewers to question the broader implications of their loss. As one of India Art Fair Delhi 2025’s Artists-in-Residence, Umesh’s pieces promise to ignite conversations about ecology, heritage, and the intricate dance between progress and preservation.

Umesh S. was born in Bhojpur, Bihar, in 1993 and currently lives in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. His work will be shown at India Art Fair 2025 as part of its Artists-in-Residence programme.