Illustrating Atrocities: Saif Ansari's Way
Saif Ansari, an illustrator and poet from Bhopal, India, adopts a reserved demeanor when speaking, but his approach to illustrating atrocities is anything but frugal.
Saif Ansari, an illustrator and poet from Bhopal, India, adopts a reserved demeanor when speaking, but his approach to illustrating atrocities is anything but frugal. While he may be reticent in conversation, his poetic expression is vivid and unrestrained. We recently had a chat with Saif after stumbling upon his eye-catching illustration capturing the situation in the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict. Below, you'll find our conversation with him, mosaiced with his thought-provoking artworks.
Like a sparrow trapped in a dusty attic, Saif’s early childhood was mostly confined to the dim corners of a basement house in Bhopal. Sunlight, a rare visitor, peeked in only during fleeting school runs. But then, in the early 2000s, his family shifted to a Railway Bungalow, where he was welcomed by the warmth of sunlight, the melody of birds, the company of trees, flowers, fruits, mischievous langurs, and open skies that stretched like dreams. The change of life and the contrast were to stay for longer than he ever thought.
As Saif tiptoed out of his childhood, sepia memories of his childhood replayed in his mind—flashbacks of a Muslim family bound by strict customs. He remarks that, for women, even their spacious haveli felt was a gilded cage. Visits to his paternal village in Uttar Pradesh exposed him to the earliest instances of social atrocities. After playing with Dalit children, he was compelled to take forced baths upon returning home. The questions brewing inside him could only reach the tip of his tongue and emerge as a perplexed silence.
Though he asserts that this isn't the only distressing experience that has gone a long way in enabling him to express the wrongs through his artworks, it remains disturbingly afresh in his memories.
His love for art was shaped by some great artists. There's David Low, who even got on Hitler's hit list, Leslie Illingworth, and a group of Russian cartoonists called Kukryniksy. Then there's Philip Zec. Later, he found inspiration from more artists like Michael P. Ramirez, Ed Steed, Dr. Benjamin Schwartz (known for medical cartoons), Nikolai Lockertson, Ayan Nag, Miguel Gallardo, Martin Elfman, Ana Yael, Hayao Miyazaki, and R.K. Laxman.
Back when he was still figuring out his art, a special workshop with a New York cartoonist opened his eyes. It was like a monsoon rain clearing away the dust, making him see art as a strong way to talk about important things in society—giving a voice to those who aren't heard and showing what's happening in the world.
For Saif, art isn't about grand pronouncements but the quiet hum of personal expression, whether it reaches two people or two million. He believes in documenting his journey, his thoughts, letting the audience decide their impact—a testament to a democratic spirit. Social media, for him, is a bustling bazaar of diverse voices, a reflection of India's vibrant democracy. However, he also cautions about the tightrope walk it entails, where judgment lurks like a cobra in the shadows, ready to strike at those who dare to express themselves freely.
Asked about his motivation for using art as a form of political expression, he admitted that he had tried to avoid it for a while but found he couldn't stay silent in the face of injustice. He recounted a vivid childhood memory from Kolkata, where he witnessed his uncle's election campaign: the late-night speeches under flickering lights, the desperate pleas from people met with candlelit promises in cramped offices, the roar of rallies, and even the crackle of gunfire in election scuffles. It was there, he said, that he realized politics permeates every corner of our lives, from adults down to children, and that its harms deserve to be called out. His art became his way of doing just that.
When envisioning an ideal world for art, Saif dreams of a place where creativity soars like a free kite, its canvas painted with genuine emotions, free from agendas or divisions. A world where art serves as a bridge of peace and a harmonious chorus of voices for the oppressed.
To see more of his artworks, one can head to @hami.ast0
Thanks, for this lovingly crafted introduction 🩷