Spotlight on B V Suresh

B V Suresh’s installations introduce a new point of departure for the understanding of painting, video and new media art practice. Originally a painter, BV Suresh is known for creating seemingly living tableau on a canvas and a screen. Suresh’s new media works continue producing an art in a third luminal space where tradition and technology is not as much a hybrid as a transmutation. As an artist whose earlier career was met with much acclaim for his paintings and assemblage, Suresh has challenged the typical demarcations of mediums by animating still surface of a painting while giving form and space to the light and fleeting presence of a video. Suresh’s unique audio-visual elements elevate the viewer in a transfigured moment of action. It is this phenomenological exploration that gives Suresh’s video installations the aura of experiencing a unique, visual poetry.

Golden Quadrilateral initially appears benign in content. The subject is based on a grandiose project of building a national highway network in India— the Golden Quadrilateral project, (the four- and six lane quadrilateral, 3,625 miles long running through 13 states and India’s four largest cities: New Delhi, Calcutta, Chennai and Mumbai), a smoother road grafting Western notions of speed and efficiency, onto a civilization that has always taken the long view.

The projection opens with a composite of painterly video shots and pictures of windmills, express highways, snails juxtaposed against the silhouette of a road worker. As the narrative progresses one sees newspaper and media images of state politicians, and maggots exposing a reality where a civil engineer, Sathyendra Dubey, was murdered for exposing corruption in the project.

Suresh’s installation encourages a thoughtful meditation on dynamic re-definition of art practice in relation to cultural change, and the dialogue between the poetic and the technological dimensions of art. These projects give us a glimpse not only into Suresh’s oeuvre but also into the dynamic visual language that addresses socio-political reality which is more jagged than straight.

The artist has woven many layers and motioned them to project ironic complexities in making right paths and directions.

B. V. Suresh was born in Bangalore in 1960, and studied at the Ken School of Arts in Bangalore. He received his Diploma and Post Diploma in Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M S University in 1985 with a Karnataka Lalitkala Academy Scholarship, and received an MA in Painting in 1987 from Royal College of Arts in London with a scholarship from the Inlaks Foundation.

His select solo exhibitions include Facilitating the Beast, Vadhera Gallery, New Delhi, 2006, Gallery Chemould, Bombay, 1998, Gallery 7, Bombay, 1992, Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bangalore, 1991, Gallery 7, Bombay, 1988. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions such as ‘Through a Glass Darkly : Reflections on the self portrait', Guild Art Gallery, Bombay, 2008, ‘Mechanisms of Motion’, Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi, ‘Guru Poornima’, Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda 2006, ‘Pachmadi Show’, ABS Gallery, Baroda, 2006, ‘Metamorphosis’, Asian Fusion Gallery, ACC, New York, 2005, ‘Generations’, Kaleidoscope Gallery, Baroda, 2005, ’ Are we like this only’, Vadhera Gallery, New Delhi, 2005, ‘Transgress’, Group Show, Bombay, 2004, ‘Looking Back - Looking Forward’, Sarjan Gallery, Baroda, 2004, ‘Highlights’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 2003, ‘Banniyan Tree’, Nazar Art Gallery, Baroda, 2002, ‘Once Upon a Time’, Gallery Chemould, Bombay, 2000, ‘New Shoes For Mercury’, Sakshi Gallery, Bombay & Bangalore, 1997, Gift for India, Organised by SAHAMAT on the occasion of 50 years of Indian Independence. Delhi & Bombay, 1997, ‘A Broader Spectrum – IV’, Gallery Chemould.

His many awards include the 1996 Grand Prize at the Sixth Biennial of Contemporary Indian Art, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal and 1995-96 Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.

His works have been exhibited extensively throughout India, as well as internationally. In 2002, he exhibited at the 2nd Asian Art Triennial, Fukuoka, Japan, as well as CAN (Concerned Action Now) Show in Delhi. He took part in the AarPar2, India Pakistan Art Exchange Project in Mumbai and Karachi, and was Resident Artist ‘VAFA’ (Vibhavi Academy of Fine Arts) in Colombo, Sri Lanka, as well as ten years of Sakshi, Chitrakalaparishat, Bangalore. In 1997 he took part in the Gift for India, in Delhi and Bombay, Organized by SAHAMAT on the Occasion of 50 Years of Indian Independence. In 1995 he exhibited in Post Card for Gandhi, SAHAMAT, Delhi and other cities. His work has been exhibited in the UK, Australia and France, as well as New York.

Besides numerous art exhibits, Suresh worked on stage and prop design in 2000 in Navlaka – Lao Jiu (Ninth Born), Directed by Anuradha Kapoor at the Asian Art Festival, New National Theatre, Tokyo. He also worked on illustrations for children’s books in 1991 for “Gadbad Ghotala,” by Safdar Hashmi, and “The Walking Stick,” a Pictorial Story Book, IBH in 1988. “The Walking Stick” was made into a digital video (5 min) in 2000, which was shown at the Chemould Gallery in Bombay at the “Once Upon a Time” exhibit.

Suresh has taken part in numerous art camps throughout India and has conducted several workshops, including an Animation Workshop in 2005 at Sahyadri School KFI, Pune, and in 1997 as a visiting lecturer at S.N. School of Visual Arts, Performing & Communication, Hyderabad University.

Most recently, he has been involved in digitally generated video art, including “Retakes of the Shadow”“The Tale of the Talking Face”(5 min), shown at Durban, South Africa, 2006; (3 min) in 2006; `I` Are we like this only, (11 min) Vadhera Gallery, New Delhi, 2005, as well as “Introspection,” (5 min), which was shown in 2002 at the Apejay Media Gallery in New Delhi and in 2001 at the South Asia Film Festival at Kathmandu, Nepal.

Opening reception of Time Trancendent a huge hit

The December 18 opening reception for Time Transcendent was a huge success. Hundreds of of guests attended this gala event. This exhibition feature videos by Pratul Dash, BV Suresh and Manoj Baviskar, and a mulit-media instalation by Kausik Mukhopadhyay. Th guests were amazed by the works on display. This exciting show will remain on display until early Feburary allowing visitors time to visit after the Holidays.

Time Transcendent to open next week at Tamarind Art

Tamarind Art is pleased to announce “Time Transcendent”, an exhibition featuring four new media artists who will be showing work that is video, performance and installation based. Featured in this show will be works by Manoj Sardar Baviskar, Pratul Dash, Kausic Mukhopadhaya, and BV Suresh.

Time Transcendent includes installation, limited edition prints, and video projections which plays throughout the gallery space. The combined works interplay various themes conveying personal, political, social, and philosophical rhetoric on rapid expanse and intricacies of globalization which is changing the face of world’s largest democracy and its civilization which saw Aryan Migration, Mogul conquest and British colonialism over centuries. Now, in span of less than 15 years, capitalism and globalization have convulsed India at an unprecedented rate of change. The works on display reflect, react, enquire or document this radically evolving society.

Time Transcendent

Exhibition will run from 19 December - 6 February 2009

About the Artists:

Manoj Sardar Baviskar’s video “I came, I saw, I prayed for someone I Loved” The piece relates to Baviskar’s relationship with nature and with the love he feels for both his girlfriend and parents. Taking place in India’s Assam Forest, Baviskar ritually paints himself green and shaves his head against a background of construction sites, signifying the deforestation of one of India’s greenest areas.

Pratul Dash is interested in popular imageries and signs of the mass media and has begun to spread his message through the use of Video Art. From his newly acquired camera, he wandered the streets of Delhi. The color, charm, seductiveness, and lure of various objects of daily life attracted his attention.

Kausic Mukhopadhaya is known for his multidimensional installations. In his most recent work at Tamarind Art, “Remix,” the audience gets to participate by looking through seven separate magnifying glasses at various written messages, which can be changed by moving wheels on the exhibit. The piece gives the audience an opportunity to view the written messages that surround us as we go about our day with a new outlook.

BV Suresh’s piece “Golden Quadrilateral,” is a digital composite of painterly video shots and pictures of windmills, express highways, snails, newspaper clippings, media images of state politicians, and maggots juxtaposed against the key framed silhouette cycle on loop of a road worker. The subject is based on a grandiose project of building a national highway network— the Golden Quadrilateral project—in which a civil engineer, Sathyendra Dubey, was murdered for exposing corruption in the project. The artist has woven many layers and motioned them to project ironic complexities in making right paths and directions.

Mind, Matter & Mystique--Extended by a Week

Due to popular demand our current show Mind, Matter and Mystique is being extended another week. This show have been a HUGE success at Tamarind Art, featuring the works of a number of very exciting emerging and early career artists. This will be your last chance to view these works in this show.

For more information on this show visit www.tamarindart.com

Chaturanga- New York Premear at Tamarind Art

Tamarind Art is excited to Announce the New York premier screening of Chaturanga (four chapters) a film by the award winning director Suman Mukhopadhyay.

Screening will be Saturday, December 13 2008 at 3pm Sharp
to attend RSVP to rsvp@tamarindart.com

Chaturanga, based on the book by Rabindranath Tagore, is Suman Mukhopadhyay's second feature film. In 2005, Suman completed his first feature film, Herbert, based on a novel by Nabarun Bhattacharya. The film was given the National Award for Best Regional Film. He has also been conferred with awards like the Most Promising Director (BFJA), Best Debut Director (Lankesh Award) and Audience Award in the Dhaka International Film Festival. Herbert has been screened in a number of national and international film festivals including Cannes, Florence, Bangkok, Osian Cinefan, Zanzibar, Mumbai, Pune and Kerala. Suman has done his film training from the New York Film Academy, USA. He is currently scripting 'The Hungry Tide,' based on the novel by Amitav Ghosh.

Karan Mahajan's book reading on 12/2 a huge success

Last nights book reading at Tamarind Art was a huge success over 75 people attended this wonderful opportunity to meet the writer. Karan read briefly from his new book Family Planning, and spent the rest of the time mingling with guests. Thank you to Harper Perennial and the South Asian Journalist Assoiation for helping to make this event a huge success.

Mind, Matter & Mystique-- Last Week

This is you last chance to catch Mind, Matter & Mystique at Tamarind Art. We have been very proud of this show which has brought back some artist who have previously shown with us and also brought some exciting emerging artists to Tamarind Art as well.

We are going to be sad to see this show come down but our next show is going to be very exciting as well. Look for information on that show later this week!

If you have not seen Mind Matter & Mystique do come by and see it- If you have seen it see it again before it is gone for good.