Express Or Impress

By Author: Mudita Sonar
Total Articles: 1
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Creativity is a valuable asset but it is the way you manifest it which defines you as an artist. If we look at expressing and impressing as the two ends of the spectrum, it would be easier to explain the mechanism of art and its manifestation. When a dancer puts all their heart into a performance, it is a form of expression because they are demonstrating their inner self through it. When another dancer juxtaposes the pure dancing with some somersaults or gymnastic moves, it is impressing. They want to dance, but with equal show of their other skills, like flexibility.
Apart from philosophical definitions, there are other ways to understand the distinction between the two. In the film industry, for example, two sorts of cinema co-exist – mainstream and art-house. In the simplest of words, Shah Rukh Khan is impress and Irrfan Khan is express. Both are acting powerhouses but while we love Shah Rukh, we respect Irrfan. Even in the movie Billu (2009), when we were able to see both of them face to face, the two characters were tailor-made for them. One could not imagine Shah Rukh Khan as the simpleton Billu because that character ...
... was straight out of real life. The main reason why we take home Irrfan Khan’s portrayals with us is that he plays relatable roles. This is not a comment on SRK’s abilities but just their modes of essaying the varied roles in cinema. We love him in films like Swades and Chak De India because he gets rid of his stardom to immerse in these characters. Both the actors are at their top game but in different genres, thereby simplifying the express-impress binary. Both are also recognised overseas as the two pillars of Hindi cinema to different sects of movie fans.

It is also crucial to understand why each is equally needed for art to function. An expression is needed to depict the truest form of an art. In the expression, a viewer sees the form of art as it is. It communicates directly with the audience. Impression, on the other hand, is the projection of this art. It usually leaves the viewer in awe of the artist. That is the elementary difference – expression is the art itself, and an impression is that of the artist. Impression stays longer with us because we can feel closer to the projection of a person than to that of an idea. We submit to expression but we desire impression.

Any form of art exists in the state of harmony when the two entities are in sync. There has to be a balance between expressions and impressions. Without art, there is no artist; and without someone who can embody it, art cannot be. We need films like Aligarh as much as Kapoor and Sons. An opener is important, but so is a finisher – balance is key. Therefore, both expression and impression are equally crucial manifestations of art and society. Both complement each other to give the perfect recipe.