Chandan Gaur with his art work Reflection at SEE, the annual show of the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
One of the first characters you meet in SEE is a terracotta sculpture by Abin PR. There are wrinkles on the clothes, the man is sitting motionless on his chair. As soon as you turn to face him, you realize that you are blocking his view. His eyesight is sharper than yours. The annual show presented by the students and faculty of SEE, College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, leaves you in awe.
Ebin PR’s untitled work at SEE, annual show at College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
Perhaps the charm of the show is its reluctance for the audience to decode itself. Many of the more than 235 pieces among them are untitled. There is no explanation of the content or context other than a note containing the artist’s name and medium; The piece speaks for itself. The artwork is curious, unsettling, and completely brilliant.
Works on display at the Annual Show, SEE, at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram. Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
In one room, a terracotta head rotates to welcome you. “I am very self-obsessed,” says artist Chandan Gaur lightly. “These are all self-portraits from my childhood.” He’s talking about a collection of six life-size figures in various stages of completion and damage. The center figure has a revolving head. Coming from a family of artisans, his project continues its tradition while incorporating modern elements. Next to these figures is a strange seventh piece – a heap of broken limbs and terracotta fragments. “It was a figure like the rest that was broken during the show. I decided to keep it. It’s still a part of the job. In addition, many statues in historical sites and museums have been broken.
AM Agenda by Sandra Thomas | Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
Sandra Thomas, who makes paper sculptures, also notes the fragility of her work. His article, AM Agenda, features a life-size model of a rubber plantation worker and his dog. At first glance, it’s impossible not to mistake it for a real person. “Most sculptures are made of heavy materials. The longevity of this idol made of light material like paper is under question. It’s a temporary piece,” she says. The focus of his art is on the everyday moments of working-class people.
Everyday life also finds a place in Ishwar D’s art. Bent out of shape, a large granite key lies in the center of his piece. The key is surrounded by plaster feet. “I wanted to show how a simple object like a key becomes the center of your life. Even if it is old and broken, its absence makes you anxious. You walk around the house looking for him. This tells us that the man depicted through the plastered feet is more fragile than the trusty granite of the key.
An art work by Ishwar D, was displayed at SEE at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram. Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
The technicolor world of Athul KP’s work reflects a lack of control. “It’s about those confusing experiences in life when you know what you should do but can’t. Sometimes, things don’t go the way you want.” He uses a mixture of acrylic and oil paint to create a nightmare-like suffocation. The abstract nature of his work prioritizes the intensity of experience over literality.
Ethul KP’s untitled work at SEE, annual show at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
Personal experience shapes art in Rahul Buskey’s work as well. “There is violence in my art,” he says. Thalum Thakaram represents tribal life through unique brushstrokes and deep colors. The violence that tribal communities face is embedded in all their work. If you look carefully you will see this Varambu The ridges – used to designate boundaries in fields – are a common feature in his art. Rahul’s works always remind us of divisions in society. “It takes time to learn about yourself; Your family, your education, your clothes, your food, your place in society.
Rahul Buskey’s work at SEE, the annual show at the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
Elsewhere, a wood owl hangs on its white satin wings. Arun PV shares his fascination with wildlife through his art. “You can see your experiences in the characteristics of the animals. When you connect with them, you find ways to see human problems through them. Through the barn owl piece, he wanted to recreate the silent nature of its flight by using a friendly material for its wings.
This exhibition highlights the commonplace and reimagines it with fresh eyes. Maheshwari MN’s bus brings to life the familiar image of a crowded bus. Charcoal is used to depict a sea of people competing to climb into the narrow space of the bus door. Adityan S Kumar, on the other hand, focuses on migrant laborers in the city. Taking inspiration from his surroundings, he paints workers in vibrant colours. Rather than following a realistic color palette, he uses paint to depict emotions.
Nitin Das’s ‘You Are Under Surveillance’ is an experience in itself. A black curtain gives way to a dark room, lit up with strange flashing images. Sometimes a startling sound comes from a corner. Upon examination with a torch, it was revealed that it was a blue statue moving in the distance. The rest of the room is just as scary. Luminous images linger in the space between human and non-human. A warning tape displays the last image – the ‘You are under surveillance’ message below informs you. Actually, there’s a camera flashing red in the corner of the room. This interesting piece is as much about concealing as it is about revealing.
Shajith RB’s work Wiping Out at SEE, Annual Show at College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram | Photo Courtesy: Nandana Nair
The lush green landscape of Shajith RB wiping out is breathtaking. Growing up in rural Kannur, his art reflects his anxiety over losing the lush greenery of his childhood due to exploitation. In the changing landscape of Malabar, his art is a tribute to nostalgia. Pointing to three houses hidden in the greenery of his painting, he says, “These are the houses I grew up in. We are becoming an increasingly individualized society. Homes remind us that we are not meant to be alone; We all need community.”
Shajith also talks about the importance of the annual show in the times of Artificial Intelligence. “Artists should be treated with respect. The work we do here has value,” he says.
SEE is going on in the College of Fine Arts from 10 am to 8 pm till December 31.
published – December 26, 2024 11:34 am IST
