🌳Archaeological pieces of evidence are primary resources because they provide direct, tangible links to past human activities even amidst the challenges of destruction and transformation over time. While the soil layers reflect complex processes such as erosion, sedimentation and human activity, archaeologists interpret these transformations and establish relative chronologies using stratigraphy. Scientific techniques such as radiocarbon dating, soil analysis and material studies help refine interpretations and provide temporal accuracy.
𓆏Though complicated, the destruction of civilisations often leaves resilient artifacts, architectural remnants, or bio-archaeological traces that serve as windows into past lives. These remnants carry first-hand information about historical communities’ technology, economy, social structure and cultural practices. While transformations may obscure some aspects, they also offer insights into environmental changes and human adaptability, making archaeological evidence indispensable for reconstructing history and understanding the continuity and rupture of human civilisations.
ꦏThe politics of archaeological evidence often remains unsettled as government policies, national agendas and socio-political contexts frequently influence archaeological excavations. What remains on the ground and what has disappeared are critical in shaping historical narratives. Still, the interpretation and prioritisation of archaeological evidence are often subject to political motivations.
✨Governments often control access to excavation sites and fund projects, making them key players in deciding which aspects of history are highlighted or suppressed. For instance, certain excavations may escalate to reinforce national identity, cultural pride, or territorial claims. But the politics of power may reinterpret the truth as truth itself is a multi-layered word! In contrast, many other layers may disappear if they challenge dominant narratives or expose uncomfortable truths. This selective approach can lead to politicising archaeological evidence and political agendas outlined to serve contemporary interests.
ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚFurthermore, interpretations of archaeological findings are influenced by the biases of researchers, institutions and the public, leading to contested narratives. The politics of representation—who is explaining the stories and how—is an ongoing debate. As a result, archaeological evidence is not just a static relic of the past but a dynamic and contested tool in creating historiography, deeply intertwined with power structures and ideological frameworks. Technological progress, particularly advancements in digital technology such as photographic imaging systems, has significantly reshaped archaeological theory and our understanding of history.
Reflex Landscape
ཧMy visual perspective resonates deeply with the transformative power of archaeological evidence in shaping artistic interpretation. The visual and material remnants of ancient civilisations—monumental architecture, intricate artifacts, or enigmatic symbols—transcend their historical contexts to inspire a profound engagement with the universal human condition. These images and objects often reveal traces of civilisations that grappled with existence, beauty and mortality, sparking contemporary artistic practices that seek meaning beyond the confines of religion or political ideologies.
✅By invoking a title like ‘Architecture of Silence’, my work captures the quiet, contemplative dialogue that emerges between the past and the present. It suggests an exploration of the voids left by history, the unspoken, the forgotten and the unknowable. In this silence lies the opportunity to romance with archaeological knowledge, not as a static historical account but as a dynamic source of inspiration that opens new avenues for visual and conceptual art. This approach allows artists to interpret ancient evidence as metaphors for continuity, conflict and coexistence, inviting viewers to meditate on the passage of time and the shared humanity that binds us across eras.
Constructing history from fragments raises questions about authenticity and authority. Whose version of the past is acceptable? Which voices are left behind?
💟This “new imagery” challenges the reductive narratives of religion or power politics, instead celebrating ambiguity, multiplicity, and reinterpretation. Art inspired by archaeological evidence creates a space where history, memory and imagination converge, allowing us to perceive the past not as distant or silent but as a living, breathing force shaping the present.
꧑Through ‘Architecture of Silence’, I am not merely representing the echoes of history but creating a new visual language that bridges the temporal and the eternal, the tangible and the abstract. Drawing inspiration from fragments and pieces and tying them together to create ‘Drawings from Non-Verbal Mind’ is a compelling and meaningful way to collaborate with viewers. By focusing on fragments rather than specific archaeological sites, you invite the audience into a space of imagination and interpretation, where the incomplete and the abstract become tools for personal reflection. This approach transcends literal narratives and encourages viewers to engage intuitively, connecting with my work’s emotional and symbolic essence.
♛My method fosters an open, universal dialogue, allowing viewers to project their experiences, thoughts and emotions onto the artwork. It mirrors the non-linear, fragmented nature of memory and history, creating a shared journey of exploration and discovery. This collaboration is powerful because it relies on the viewer’s active participation, making the art not just a visual experience but also a deeply introspective one. By embracing the non-verbal, tapping into a primal, universal language that connects on a level beyond words, making the work timeless and profoundly resonant. Collecting fragments and attempting to reconstruct the past inherently involve a degree of interpretation, often influenced by the politics of knowledge production. Archaeologists, like artists, work with incomplete evidence—pieces and fragments of material culture—and strive to create coherent narratives about past societies. However, interpreting and assembling these fragments are rarely neutral, with contemporary ideologies framing them with funding priorities, institutional frameworks and cultural contexts.
Questions of Authenticity and Authority
𓂃Constructing history from fragments also raises questions about authenticity and authority. Whose version of the past is acceptable? Which voices are left behind? Transforming fragmented evidence into a linear historical truth can obscure the complexity and multiplicity of past lives and events. These reflexes engage the artistic process in many ways, and we see the new form. However, while my practices celebrate ambiguity and invite open-ended interpretation, archaeology often aims for definitive conclusions that can be contentious and politically charged. For example, deciding which fragments to prioritise, how to contextualise them and which gaps to fill with speculation can significantly shape the “truth” that emerges. These decisions are not merely technical but political, as they often reflect the values and power dynamics of the present. Governments, funding bodies, or dominant cultural groups may influence excavations and interpretations to align with specific agendas—such as reinforcing national pride, validating territorial claims, or marginalising alternative narratives.
🔴By highlighting archaeology and art’s fragmentary and interpretive nature, I underscore that history and truth are not static but continuously negotiated and reimagined. This perspective invites viewers to question the constructed nature of historical narratives and engage with the past—and my language of art—in a more critical, reflective and personal way.
(Views expressed are personal)
Samit Das specialises in painting, interactive artworks & artists’ books
(This appeared in the print as 'Post Continuum')
