THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The exhibition of sculptures at Surykanti Art Gallery - ‘Perceptions’- showcases the veritable poetry in stone, metal, wood and clay. From artistic improvisations to critique of socio-cultural aspects, the artworks veer from the ordinary in form and content. Artists V Satheesan, Ramdas Tolil, A Guruprasad and Usha Ramachandran have brought together an ensemble of sculptures that mirror the changes in art as well as the mundane.
V Satheesan, noted sculptor and teacher, is as versatile as ever, chiseling and scultping across a wide range of materials. Granite, bronze, marble, fibre glass, stone and welded metal have yielded to his abundant talent. ‘Freinds’ depict twin owls chiseled out of stone while ‘Bondage’ is an eloquent portrayal cast in bronze and granite. The huddled up old man and the folds of his yellow blanket in ‘Winter Morning’ overcome the challenges of fibre glass to make the piece appear hauntingly real. Other noteworthy pieces include the bronze-and-marble work ‘Ecstasy’ and ‘Waiting’ and the Ganapathi in welded metal. The city-based artist is a winner of the Lalithakala Academy award for best sculpture. He teaches at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom.
Usha Ramchandran has worked chiefly with her favourire medium of bronze. Her works range from recreations of images from a by-gone era to pure flight of fancy.
‘Namboothiri’, set in wood and bronze, is a classic example of her attempt to essay the feudalistic society that was prevalent in Kerala. On the other hand, her sculptures in wood - ‘Meditation’ and ‘The Awakened One’ - delve into deeper spiritual experiences. The artist is on a creative high in works such as ‘I can Fly’, ‘Dragon Fly’, and ‘Mother’s Pet’.
A Guruprasad, the police officer-turned-sculptor, showcases a family on the move in his relatively large piece.
The work shows the members of a family walking one after the other, apparently on a long journey. Titled ‘Happy Journey’, the piece is cast in bronze. Guruprasad has previously conducted single-sculpture exhibition at the Napier Musuem.
The works of Ramdas Tolil experiment with an array of medium, while trying to grapple with the multi-pronged realities of the age. ‘Plundering Territory’, for instance, uses wood, cloth and resin. ‘Breath Juxtaposes’ is put together with wood, steel and scrap material.
The exhibition will conclude on July 25. Time: 11 am to 6 pm.