Where Discipline Breathes in Colour: Stories Uniform Never Told
3 min read
Shimla, April 08 Ritanjali Hastir
Pablo Picasso’s saying, “I am always doing what I cannot do yet, to learn how to do it,” resonates deeply with the ongoing painting exhibition, “Beyond the Uniform,” at the historic Gaiety Theatre.
The exhibition emerges not merely as a display of artworks but as a deeply human narrative—one that quietly dismantles the rigid, one-dimensional perception of policing. Here, authority gives way to introspection, and structure finds an unexpected companion in spontaneity.
What lends this exhibition its quiet power is the fact that most of its contributors are self-taught artists. There is no institutional polish here; only persistence, instinct, and an evolving relationship with art. The works carry an honesty that formal training often refines away; each canvas feels lived-in, shaped by long hours of duty and fleeting moments of creative refuge.
The exhibition moves fluidly between meditative and expressive registers. Intricate mandala compositions evoke discipline translated into devotion, precise, rhythmic, and almost contemplative. In contrast, floral works and landscapes open up spaces of softness, echoing Himachal’s natural serenity with a certain emotional ease.
Yet, beneath this calm lies a sharper edge. Some works confront social realities, particularly substance abuse, with a directness that is difficult to ignore. This interplay of calm and confrontation becomes the exhibition’s underlying language, suggesting that those who enforce order also witness its fractures most closely.
At the heart of this visual spectrum stands Dy. SP Geetanjali Thakur, whose work forms both the emotional and aesthetic anchor of the show. Her mandala art, marked by intricate symmetry and meditative depth, draws viewers into a space of stillness, while her floral compositions offer a lyrical counterpoint, gentle yet assured. Her contribution, both in scale and impact, shapes the exhibition’s core identity.
Among the many compelling voices, ASP Suneel Negi’s watercolor works deserve special mention. Watercolor, often considered one of the most unforgiving mediums, demands both restraint and intuition, qualities that cannot be easily taught. That a self-trained artist navigates this medium with such sensitivity is noteworthy. His fluid washes and confident strokes capture fleeting moods and landscapes with an immediacy that feels both spontaneous and deeply considered.
Alongside him, artists such as HC Varun Katoch, Ct. Robin Sharma, Ct. Asif Khan (No. 700), Ct. Hemant Negi, Ct. Vivek Vardhan, LC Deepika Pandit, LC Kajal Agnihotri, LC Nitika, LC Premlata, and LC Babita collectively build a rich and varied visual field. Their works, ranging from portraits and devotional imagery to contemporary expressions, reflect individual journeys shaped outside formal academies, yet grounded in observation and discipline.
The artworks, priced between ₹800 and ₹35,000 and above, suggest a growing seriousness towards the craft while remaining accessible. However, the exhibition resists being reduced to business, but, instead, it becomes a space of recognition, where identity extends beyond designation, and creativity coexists with duty.
“Beyond the Uniform” does not seek to impress but quietly reveals. And in doing so, it reminds us that beneath the visible structure of authority lies an invisible world of thought, emotion, and imagination that is waiting, perhaps, for nothing more than a canvas.
