Cross-Community Counter-Memorialisation and Resistance in the Contemporary Kashmiri Art of Veer Munshi and Ehtisham Azhar

Abstract

This paper examines how artistic practices in Kashmir function as acts of commemoration and resistance, focusing on the works of two artists, Veer Munshi and Ehtisham Azhar, from two different generations. In a region marked by violence and systemic repression, traditional forms of memorialization are often censored or erased. In response, these artists use visual narratives to preserve memory and challenge dominant narratives of power and conflict. Through their paintings, installations, and performances, these artists engage with themes of loss, displacement, and resilience, transforming art into a space for collective remembrance. Their work resists the sanitization of historical atrocities, fostering public engagement with contested histories and offering alternative archives of memory. This study critically analyzes how their practices navigate political constraints to assert identity, reclaim cultural heritage, and challenge erasure in a tightly controlled environment. By situating their work within the broader discourse of memorialization and resistance aesthetics, this paper underscores the role of artistic expression in shaping collective memory and countering mediatized narratives in Kashmir.