1970s – Ape Series – Rameshwar Broota

Broota renders ape-like characters to satirically represent socio-political disparities with a comic-tragic evocation saturating his canvases with bright colors.

“His invented ape-like man became emblematic of his themes on the decrepit social system with corrupt police officers, military generals, judiciary and bureaucrats and even power wielding havaldars.

This marked a shift in his figurative imagery, from emaciated bodies to bulky, overgrown, indolent, and greedy-looking ape-like man figures, often placed in vibrant and elaborately designed interiors. Perched on sofas or armchairs, their demeanor showed overt and obvious signs of glaring consumerism.”

– Roobina Karode, Visions of Interiority: Interrogating the Male Body