Bose Krishnamachari still vividly remembers veteran artist Vivaan Sundaram’s words when he grappled with the challenges mounting the first edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale in 2012.
“He kept me with him and assured that he would take care of his establishment titled black Gold, Which is made of 2,000-year-old pottery pieces taken directly from the archaeological center of Pattanam in Muziris. He was one of the early supporters of the Kochi Muziris Biennale and supported us financially as well. Vivaan will always be remembered as a politically and socially committed artist who always searched for artistic solidarity through his various creative endeavours,” said Mr. Krishnamachari, President, Kochi Biennale Foundation, paying tribute to the prolific artist Said, who died. Delhi Wednesday.
Sundaram was one of the leading multi-faceted artistes of India. Social worker and friend Shabnam Hashmi said that Sundaram had been ailing for the past few months with multiple problems.
“Vivaan Sundaram passed away today at 9.20 am. Further details regarding the scheduled cremation will be communicated to you shortly,” read a note issued by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), of which Sundaram was a founder trustee.
Sundaram, who was one of the artists who pitched the idea of the Delhi Biennale in 2005, was excited to be involved in the inaugural edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale. He wanted to combine art with history through his installation.
“When I was invited to KMB, I was curious about Muziris. I have been interested in voyages and boats and our connection to the sea. Pattanam, a port town that collapsed quite mysteriously and the 20th century re-emerged at the end of, it could be a guess,” he said Hindu In an interview in August 2012.
PJ Cherian, former director of the Kerala Council for Historical Research, who led the Pattanam excavations, termed his first meeting with Sundaram a “wonderful moment”.
Artist Vivaan Sundaram with his artistic reconstruction of the lost city of Muziris at Aspinwall House in 2012. , Photo Credit: KK Mustafa
“He came and asked for about 80,000 pieces of pottery out of about 4.5 million pieces that were found in less than 1% of the site excavated. He would handle them like we would handle a new born baby. Only an artist of his legacy can find him because he had life. That image changed all of us who were present with him.”
Stating that Sundaram adopted the history of Muziris, Prof. Cherian said he also told her that contemporary art is part of our pre-history.
Although he could not make it to the ongoing edition of the Biennial due to his illness, his set of paintings entitled The Heights of Machu Picchu (1972) attracted attention because it contained verses from the poetry of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and depicted the oppressed. Expressed solidarity with the population. , The artist and his wife, art critic Geeta Kapur, donated 40 lakhs for the second edition of the Kochi Muziris Biennale.
Prior to being actively associated with the Kochi Muziris Biennale since 2012, Vivaan had visited Kerala in connection with Left Front meetings on various occasions. He was also associated with the works related to the Left Writers Association.
early years and works
Born in Shimla in 1943 to parents Kalyan Sundaram, former chairman of the Law Commission of India, and Indira Sher-Gil, sister of renowned Indian modern artist Amrita Sher-Gil, the Delhi-based artist graduated from MS University, Baroda and The Slade. I studied painting. School of Fine Art, London in the 1960s.
Sundaram’s artistic practice, which during his college years involved himself with everything from paintings to readymades, photographs, videos to sculpture installations, has been widely recognized as instrumental in the definition and development of installation as a practice in the country. has been considered important since.
Sundaram’s works have been displayed in the Biennials of Kochi (2012), Sydney (2008), Seville (2006), Taipei (2006), Sharjah (2005), Shanghai (2004), Havana (1997), Johannesburg (1997) and Kwangju Has gone. (1997).
His first retrospective, “Step Inside and You Are No Stranger Anymore”, which brings together his 50 years of work and ideas, was held in 2018 at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi.
He is survived by his wife, art historian-critic Geeta Kapur.
(With inputs from PTI)