This MRP analyses key elements in several of Anish Kapoor's iconic artworks. While many of these works appear formalist at first glance, the artist's multicultural background plays an important and often under-recognized role. Born in Mumbai, Kapoor spent his formative childhood years in India before moving to London and starting his professional artistic career. Often eschewing his Indian roots in favour of being considered an artist, first and foremost, the subtler meanings embodied in Kapoor's work remains a challenge to those unfamiliar with Indian culture, religion and philosophy. This major research paper seeks to bring forth the Indian aspects found in Kapoor's sculptures and installations. Three sections – ‘Colour’, ‘Auto-generation’ and ‘Architecture’ – identify the presence of Indian thought and spirituality in Kapoor's use of intense colour, self-created objects, and evocative voids. I argue that Hindu concepts such as Sunyata ("emptiness") and Samkhya ("dualities") are fundamental to the artist's works. Ultimately, Kapoor’s work not only features traces of Indian themes, philosophies, and culture, but depends on these aspects for its most compelling affects.
Keywords: Anish Kapoor, Indian culture, Sunyata, colour in art, Samkhya, voids in sculpture, auto-generation in art, contemporary art, installation art