In present times of social media influencers and digital tools for creating art, one often wonder’s what is the role of a painter in society? Is he an onlooker, a critic or simply a tiny speck in the larger gamut of social structure. In an art world, where artists are so often focused on selling their artworks to elite galleries and affluent collectors, Alpula Pocham embarked on a journey that seems quite impossible for an average person. With no concrete plan or funding for such an arduous journey, Pocham’s Kalayatra began with the sole purpose of an observer, a flaneur who imbibes nature’s beauty around, captures dissipating cultures and ethnicities, the diversity of a country that is multifaceted and dynamic.
On a similar note, Pocham’s work provides a sense of catharsis for people, allowing the viewers to connect with emotions and experiences of mundane daily lives that are lost in urban chaos. Through this connection many a times, art transcends language and cultural boundaries, creating a universal emotional resonance.
During his grueling journey that started in 2017 and ended in 2024, from Kashmir to KanyaKumari, he has captured cultural richness of each region in India through live sketching and painting. His artworks highlight the country's diversity and celebrate natural beauty and cultural heritage of rural areas like Punjab, Rajasthan, Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, Goa, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Odisha, bringing people together as one human race. Observing natural landscapes, festivities, tribal arts and architectural styles enriches his work. As an archivist he has meticulously made drawings of tribal attires, masks, ritualistic objects that are disappearing with rapid modernisation processes. His own style in pen and ink is emerging from observing various tribal art forms such as Kobar and Rock painting.
His daily experiences, interactions and struggle to survive while facing practical challenges make his artworks unique. As a traveller, Pocham shares his remarkable experiences of how the most common and poorest of people do not hesitate to share their food, give space in their homes to rest and also provide guidance in moving ahead in the journey. Places of worship belonging to all religions became his safe havens to spend a night or two. And how painting a portrait could earn him a meal to live that day. The odyssey that Pocham underwent is no less than a crusade to unite people, regions and cultures; that despite our differences, what unites us is ‘humanity’ and ‘beauty’.
