Ideal Vs Reality by Mohd. Intiyaz

Ideal Vs Reality exposes the dissonance between the sanitized narratives taught in schools and the harsh truths we encounter beyond them. Central to this work is the figure of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar—celebrated in textbooks as a founding figure of the nation, yet continually disrespected in reality through acts of vandalism and violence, most recently in Gurugram (Feb 2025). A large green cloth falls to reveal poverty, erasure, and distrust—realities hidden behind ornamentation and spectacle. The vibrant patterns in the background draw from state-led beautification drives, such as those for the G20 summit, where decoration masks systemic failure. Children in school uniforms, stepping out of fabricated stories, walk toward this unveiled reality. In the bottom corner, three malnourished cows evoke both the starkness of poverty and the politicization of the animal—another tool of distraction. Through these juxtapositions, the work underscores how state narratives construct illusions, while the lived world remains fractured and unresolved. 

This artwork was exhibited at Method in the group exhibition "The Parliament is Now in Session" (August 2025)