Bringing together the diverse practices and perspectives of artists from across the country, Sumansa Foundation will present a two-day showcase Art Unfettered in Chennai on 12th and 13th April.

In its second year, musician, writer and activist TM Krishna, who leads the foundation, traces his journey, and decides to launch a grant project that invites applications from artists who push the envelope. Krishna says, “We realized that there were young artists that we could support and encourage through grants, so that they could think in a much more open way in terms of their art and their thought processes. It is in keeping with that philosophy that art needs to engage with the larger society and the complexity of socio-political issues.”

Shehzor (centre) performs with independent rock band Inshallah Babes Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

He emphasizes the importance of democratizing grants in the art world, which are often urban and English-centric. “The posters asking for applications were in multiple languages, and we spread the word to local artists as well as multiple states. We also didn’t push for written applications; videos and even voice notes were encouraged, whatever they were most comfortable with,” he explains. While the foundation received around 150 applications from across the country, five artistes, Seetha, Arindam Manna, Nikki Chandam, Rini Alphonsa Joseph, and Shehzor and her rock band, Inshallah Babes, were selected by an independent jury. After being awarded the grant, each artist has, over the past nine months, worked on their existing, or new work, with Art Unfettered being its culmination.

Art by Arindam Manna | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

On the first day, PhD scholar Sita will present a solo act, Kathakali, at 5.30 pm; Visual artist Arindam will be in conversation with Aishwarya Arumbakkam at 6.45pm and Nikki will present Unfolding: A Free Verse Movement at 7.45pm. On the second day, artist, potter and writer Rini will be in conversation with V Saranraj at 6.30 pm, and Shehzor will perform with Inshallah Babes at 7.30 pm.

Over the past few months, says visual artist Arindam, he took him back to the forests of Suri, his hometown in West Bengal, and asked him to consider the realities of extinction and how the places he grew up have changed over the years. He explains, “I have always been interested in the transitional stage of a place, and this project documents these fragile forests through a series of visual art based on my observations, recordings and photographs derived from conversations with the communities there.”

Work by Renee Joseph Alphonsa Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Sita’s Kathakali highlights the conversation on love between self and the world, which she describes as a loving communal process. She adds, “Many of us are not full-time artists and we use art and spaces that will enhance our work.”

Varisha Narayanan, part of the core team of Sumanasa Foundation along with Shweta Prachandhe and Vignesh Eshwar, says the foundation values ​​being able to give artists a safe space to present their work. She adds, “Although they are different in their journey, presenting them on the same platform binds them as a group.”

Art Unfettered is on 12-13 April at MS Subbulakshmi Auditorium, Asian College of Journalism, Taramani.