Matter in the universe is neither created nor destroyed. This means that the atoms comprising each of our bodies have existed since the perceivable beginning of time. Pushing further, one might also posit that the fleeting nature of our atoms’ momentary configuration diminishes the importance of the barrier created to house one’s “self”. Art boasts the profound power to remind us of this astounding possibility. It can place the viewer in another’s shoes, reminding the world that we are all one. Such is the intention of “Organics”, a recent mural by Canadian street artist Emmanuel Jarus (commonly known as Young Jarus) in Mahim East, a neighborhood of Mumbai, India. Made in the image of the community it calls home, “Organics” gently reminds the citizens of Mahim East that they too are part of a larger whole, in the microcosm of their bustling home.
While familiarizing himself with Mahim East, Jarus set out to take a series of portraits capturing life in the neighborhood. According to Wikipedia, this portion of the city is “often considered as the heart of Mumbai.” Populated by a rich blend of personalities and beliefs, “Mahim upholds the values of secularism and diversity.” Young Jarus selected one image from his exploration, and used it as the central figure for his work. In creating this mural, he omitted the subject’s face, an act that a press release states is “intentionally done by the artist to represent not one person, but everyone.” The man emerges from luscious fauna, completely occupied with the task at hand. He is “a working class person caught in an act of daily routine, much like all the people who live in the neighbourhood.”
The vibrant orange of the man’s shirt and the rag he is holding provides a contrast highlighting the beautiful green hues of the natural environment surrounding him. Leaves from underbrush extend beyond the murals frame, drooping down to the street below. This detail is intentional, and “by conceptually opening a window to the natural elements, Jarus’ piece aims to re-connect human beings with their original ecosystem.” In doing so, he reminds viewers of all origins that they too are but a piece of the entire natural world beyond.
“Organics” constitutes the newest chapter in the evolving style of Young Jarus. It stays true to the artist’s calling card of democratic portraits of everyday people depicted by the artist’s vivid, yet realistic hand. The mural marks the artist’s first work in India, following large-scale projects in France, Malaysia, Mexico and beyond. Like “Organics”, these previous works tend to showcase citizens native to the communities where they can be found.
It is in these beautiful images of daily life’s mundane tasks that Young Jarus finds value. He “warns us that he is not an artist seeking an abstract meaning, rather one who wants to create something meaningful and relatable to the people who live on the area.” The title “Organics” encapsulates this natural flow of his creative process. “Just like the elements in his work, his process was also organic – from spending time in the neighbourhood to photograph the right subject, to the colours he used which are very much a part of the social fabric,” offering viewers an opportunity to recall the fact that they are more than the roles they play in daily life. They are made of organic matter dating back to the birth of life before we knew it.
Images by Suraj Katra
