An exhibition of paintings, sculptures and installations by 11 budding young artists is on at the city’s Museum Art Gallery. These exhibits are entries submitted for the KP Krishnakumar Young Artist Award instituted by the gallery for emerging visual artists in memory of sculptor KP Krishnakumar.
Bineesh Narayanan, Dhanya VV, Abin PR, Midhun J, Praveen Prasannan, Ratheesh Kumar KS, Sandra Thomas, Sumesh BS, Vipin Vadakkineyil, Vishnupriya P and Vivek VC are the participating artists.
‘Gaze-3’ by Dhanya VV, who won the KP Krishnakumar Young Artist Award. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The focus is on Dhanya’s award-winning work, Gaze-3. Done using cloth, metal wire and woolen thread, it is from a series representing body parts of a woman. “My art is based around the body. The soft nature of the materials I use, such as cloth, jute and thread, relates to the softness of the body,” says the artist.
Dhanya says that making these artworks is her way of overcoming her fears which stemmed from a traumatic experience in her childhood. “The exploitation of women and children, regardless of gender, continues. The latter often do not know what is happening to them. I have taken my own struggles and creating art is a healing process,” says Dhanya. She started embroidery, sewing and crocheting from her grandmother. Her training in fashion designing also came in handy, as shown in her installation work, using iron rods and cotton yarn to move spaces.
‘Rasoi’, a work in charcoal on handmade paper by Ratnesh Kumar KS | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The emotions associated with the interiors have been captured by Ratish Kumar KS. Giving gravitas to the work is the medium he has chosen – charcoal. Her familiar places like her room, kitchen, dorm room etc. have been depicted on the canvas. “Each space has a character depending on the nature of the person using it. The state of mind I was in when I was locked in a room during the lockdown has also come in handy,” says Ratheesh.
‘Inside Out’, Acrylic on Canvas by Vishnupriya P | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Vishnupriya’s Inside Out series also looks at interiors, but in a different light. The old hostel rooms of his alma mater, College of Engineering Trivandrum, are painted in detail through acrylic on canvas. A Civil Services Aspirant explains: “There are times when I am unable to clear my thoughts. But once I get it down on the canvas, I understand them. So painting is like self-discovery.”
‘Roohi’, Wooden Sculpture by Sumesh BS | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Happiness is what Sumesh BS associates with his wooden sculptures, which are dedicated to certain aspects and incidents from the life of his friend Roohi, who is also the title of the works. For example, the work showing a pregnant woman is based on a dream Ruhi had. Another work is inspired by a childhood photo of Ruhi. “I want my work to make people happy or positive,” says Sumesh.
Sandra Thomas has chosen a material that is part of our daily lives – paper, which she combined with toy-making and sewing techniques she learned from childhood. Life-size figures wearing masks allude to the pandemic. “When the lockdown was imposed, it was not possible to buy any other material and hence I chose paper, which is easily available. I also wanted to enhance its value as a medium to create art,” she says.
‘The Symbol of Whereabouts’, mixed media on paper by Vipin Vadakkineyil | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The loneliness many of us were in during the past two years, he has tried to portray through figures and their actions. Around 140 miniature figures made of paper pulp are a masterpiece. “Gatherings were banned during the lockdown and this aspect has come into play. The size of the figures is keeping in mind the sense of confinement that we all have felt while being forced to stay indoors,” she says.
‘The Man Who Had Been Thrown’ by Abin PR | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Man Who Had Been Throned is one of Ebbin’s masterpieces, consisting of wall-mounted boxes with small compartments holding small terracotta and porcelain figurines. “I represented the discarded bottles that we see around. But they really stand for human beings who have been abandoned,” explains Ebin.
‘Study for Grandma’s Nightmare’, a work in watercolor on paper by Vivek VC | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Vivek has performed project tasks that are on hold due to his grandmother’s medical condition. “She has early stage Alzheimer’s and keeps connecting events and people from the past with the present. The main themes of the project are death, decay, anxiety…,” says Vivek. Deeply influenced by American artist Hernan Bass, Vivek says he has been studying the heavy and thick brushstrokes used by him. “Paranormal elements are integral to his works and I also have an affinity for horror stories and fiction,” he says.
Sculpture in mixed media by Midhun J | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Midhun draws inspiration from her surroundings, as exemplified by her monumental sculptures on floods and oxygen crisis during the pandemic. Using a variety of media, mainly wood and metal, he has displayed works that leave the viewer in awe, such as the concept of home. “I love experimenting with materials, especially their transformation process,” says Midhun. The artist says he is inspired by the way artists such as Martin Purrier and Bruno Walpoth treat wood in their works.
‘Gaanth’, a work in iron and brass by Praveen Prasannan | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Bineesh’s works are distinctive in that he divides the canvas with lines to depict maximum narratives, while Vipin captures the personal and familiar inside an iron box, a pot and a pot. Kindi (Brass pot). Vipin says, “My world revolves around my mother and these are the things she always used.”
The exhibition will end on January 31. Timings: 10.30 AM to 11.30 PM