Riyas Komu was born in 1971 in Kerala, and moved to Mumbai in 1992 to study literature. Dropping out during his final year, Komu eventually obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Art from the Sir J. J. School of Art in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Since his graduation, Komu has been constantly asserting and pushing himself with a strong body of work.
The artist’s oeuvre, spanning several different media and genres,...
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Riyas Komu was born in 1971 in Kerala, and moved to Mumbai in 1992 to study literature. Dropping out during his final year, Komu eventually obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Art from the Sir J. J. School of Art in 1997 and 1999 respectively. Since his graduation, Komu has been constantly asserting and pushing himself with a strong body of work.
The artist’s oeuvre, spanning several different media and genres, is particularly noticed for its strong political overtones. His paintings, to put it in his own words, carry a protest symbol one way or the other. He has remarked, “I strongly feel it is my duty to be political. I believe that my paintings should look back at the viewer rather than just tell a story or hang on the wall.”
Influenced by his father’s political leanings and his own brief associations with political student groups, Komu is keen on using his work to “ring alarm bells” about the explosive urban situation he encountered in Mumbai. His body of work references the paradoxes of the urban situation, where on one hand, there is glamour, and on the other, abject poverty. Creating his pieces with equal doses of compassion and cynicism, Komu’s work reflects both hope and dejection – a tribute to the spirit of all those who continue to survive the city and its paradoxes.
Some of Komu’s recent solo shows include ones of his photographic works at the Guild Gallery, Mumbai, in 2008 and 2005, and two exhibitions held at Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, in 2005 and 2002. His works have also been featured in group exhibitions held at Saffronart and the Guild Gallery, Mumbai, in 2004; the Harmony Show, Mumbai, in 2003, where he won the ‘Excellence Award for Emerging Artist of the Year’; the Fine Art Company, Mumbai, in 2002; the Guild Gallery, Mumbai, in 2001 and 2002; Lakeeren and Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2000; and the National Gallery of Modern Art annual shows in 1999 and 2000. In 1997, Komu received the two year long K. K. Hebbar Foundation Society Scholarship, and has also been honoured with the Bombay Art Society Award in 1996 and the Maharashtra State Art Prize in 1995. The artist lives and works in Mumbai.
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Born
1971
Kerala
Education
1999 Master of Fine Arts (Painting), Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai
1997 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting), Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018 'Riyas Komu: Holy Shiver',...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018 'Riyas Komu: Holy Shiver', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2012 'Condition', Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi
2010-11 'Oil's Well, Let's Play!', Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro, Milan
2010 'Subrata to Cesar', Gallery Maskara, Mumbai in association with The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'Safe to Light', Azad Art Gallery, Tehran
2008 'Related List', Bodhi Art, Berlin
2008 'Mark Him (Second Half)', Galerie 88, Kolkata
2007 ‘Mark Him’, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘Systematic Citizen’, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2006 ‘Faith Accompli’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2005 ‘Grass’, Photography Show, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2005 ‘The Third Day’, Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2003 ‘Sarasu’, Photography Show on Raja Ravi Verma Press, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002-03 ‘Ambulance’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai and Renaissance Art Gallery, Bangalore
2002 ‘Unconditional’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
Selected Group Exhibitions
2013 'Peak Shift Effect', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2012 '2 + 2 = 5', The Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2012 'The Contemporary Sultanate', presented by Exhibit 320 at One Style Mile, Olive, New Delhi
2011 Gallery Sumukha, Chennai
2011 'Pause: A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon
2011 'Palimpsest', Aicon Gallery, New York
2011 'Tolstoy Farm: Archive of Utopia', presented by Seven Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2011 'Tech-Cut-Edge-Revelations', Ashna Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Myth - Reality: Constructing Cult-ure', The Guild, Mumbai
2010 'Inside India', Palazzo Saluzzo Paesana, Turin
2010 'Midnight's Children', Studio La Citta, Italy
2010 'Looking Glass: The Existence of Difference', Twenty Indian Contemporary Artists presented by Religare Arts Initiative, New Delhi in collaboration with American Centre; British Council; Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi
2010 'Indian (Sub)Way', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi; Grosvenor Vadehra, London
2010 'Third Dimension', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'A. SYCO', The Viewing Room, Mumbai
2010 'By George', presented by Cherry Art Foundation at Alliance Francaise de Delhi, New Delhi
2010 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai
2010 'Contested Space- Incursions', Seven Art Limited, New Delhi
2009-10 'Sculpture', The Guild, Mumbai
2009 'The Dark Science of Five Continents', Gallery BMB, Mumbai
2009 'Indian Summer', Galerie Christian Hosp, Berlin
2009 'Multitudes', Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, Bangalore in collaboration with Zen Studio Gallery and Artflute.com
2009 'India Contemporary', GEM, Museum of Contemporary Art, Hague
2009 'In The Mood For Paper', F2 Gallery, Beijing
2009 'Zip Files', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009 'Inaugural Show', Sakshi Gallery, Taipei
2009 'Shifting Shapes, Unstable Signs', Yale School of Art, Connecticut, USA
2009 'Bapu', presented by Saffronart in association with Berkeley Square Gallery, London
2008-09 'Signs Taken for Wonders: Recent Art from India and Pakistan', Aicon Gallery, London
2008-09 'Hot Shots', The Viewing Room, Mumbai
2008 'Uncovered', Sans Tache Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008 'November', 1x1 Contemporary, Al Quoz, Dubai
2008 'Everything 2008: 12 Artists from India', Willem Baars Projects, Amsterdam
2008 'Six Degree of Separation Chaos, Congruence and Collaboration in South Asia', presented by KHOJ International Artists’ Association and the Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi at Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi on the eve of 10 Years of KHOJ
2008 'Urgent Conversations', Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre and Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2008 ‘Everywhere Is War (and Rumors of War)’, Bodhi Art, Mumbai
2008 'Link', Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008 ‘Frontlines: Notations from the Contemporary Indian Urban’, BodhiBerlin, Berlin
2008 'Shifting Terrains: Altered Realities', The Shrine Gallery, New Delhi
2008 ‘India Crossing’, Studio La Citta, Verona
2008 'Affair', 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai
2007-08 Indian Art at the Swarovski ‘Crystal World’, 1st Exhibition, Tirol – Österreich, Austria
2007-08 ‘India Now: Contemporary Indian Art Between Continuity and Transformation’, Provincia di Milano, Milan, Italy
2007-08 ‘Face East’, Contemporary Asian Portraiture, Wedel Fine Art, London
2007-08 ‘Similarities’, Lansdowne Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘India Time’, Galleria Paolo Curti / Annamaria Gambuzzi, Milan, Italy
2007 Christian Hosp, Austria
2007 ‘New Wave: Contemporary Art form India’, Aicon Gallery, London
2007 ‘Frame / Grid / Room / Cell’, Bodhi Art, Mumbai
2007 ‘Young Guns’, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai
2007 Photographs, Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘I Fear, I Believe, I Desire’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
2006 ‘Bronze’, Sculpture Show, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
2006 'Drawing Show an Act of Art II', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘Art on the Beach, Made by Indians’, St Tropez, Gallery Enrico Navarra, Paris
2006 ‘On Difference # 2’, represented Korea, Wurtt, Kunstwerein Stuttgart, Germany
2006 ‘Maarkers’, Bodhi Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘Red Earth and the Pouring Rain’, Lanxess ABS Gallery, Baroda
2006 ‘Strangeness’, Ananat Art Gallery, Kolkata
2006 'Tangibles', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 ‘Kaam’, Arts India Gallery, New York and Palo Alto
2005 ‘Span’, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 ‘Endless Terrain’, Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2005 ‘Double Enders’, Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Kochi
2005 ‘Present Future’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
2005 ‘Configurations’, Ananat Art Gallery, New Delhi
2005 ‘Are We Like This Only’, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
2005 ‘Whose Space Is It Anyway’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi
2005 ‘Mannat Jali’, Marine Drive, Mumbai
2005 ‘Public Art Project’, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
2004 V. M. Art Gallery, Karachi
2004 ’Anticipations’, Museum Gallery, Mumbai
2004 ‘Bombay Boys’, Palette Gallery, New Delhi
2004 ‘A New Mediatic Realism’, Bayer ABS Gallery, Baroda
2004 ‘Generation I’, Saffronart Gallery, Mumbai
2004 ‘RED’, Palette Gallery, New Delhi
2004 ‘Mumbai x 17’, Kashi Art Gallery, Cochin
2003 ‘Crossing Generations : diVERGE’, 40 Years of Gallery Chemould at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
2003 ‘Highlights’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2003 ‘2D / 3D’, Visual Art Centre, Hong Kong
2003 ‘Ideas and Images’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
2003 ‘Art for Art / Switzerland Meets India’, Kala Ghoda Festival, Mumbai
2002 ‘Ways of Resisting 1992-2002’, Sahmat, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
2002 ‘Words and Images’, organized by The Guild, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
2002 ‘Creative Space’, Sakshi Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2002 ‘Crosscurrents’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2002 ‘Debt’, The Guild, Mumbai
2002 ‘Tribute To Picasso’, The Guild, Mumbai
2001 ‘The Human Factor’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2001 ‘Engendering Images of Women’, The Guild, Mumbai
2001 ‘Excerpts from My Diary’, Fine Art Company, Mumbai
2000 ‘Mumbai Metaphor’, Tao Art gallery, Mumbai
2000 ‘Exile Longings’, Lakeeren Art Gallery, Mumbai
2000 ‘Memos of The New Millennium – Artists From The Molting World’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
2000 ‘Ideas and Images’,(Video Installation), National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
1999 ‘Critics Choice’, Ideas and Images, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
1998 ‘He Used To Believe that EMS Planted Coconut Tree In Kerala’, Installation, Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai
1998 ‘Essays in Time – Kinetic Sculpture (Audio-Video Installation), Nehru Centre, Mumbai
Selected Joint Exhibitions
2012 'Alone / Together', with G R Iranna at Aicon Gallery, New York
2007 ‘Other’, with Peter Drake at Aicon Gallery, London
Participations
2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
2012 ‘To Let the World In: Narrative and Beyond in Contemporary Indian Art’, as part of Art Chennai, Edition II at Lalit Kala Regional Centre, Chennai
2011-12 'India: Lado a Lado / Arte Contemporânea Indiana (India: Side by Side / Indian Contemporary Art)', part of the Exhibition ÍNDIA! presented by Brazilian Ministry of Culture and Banco do Brasil at Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Rio de Janeiro; Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, São Paulo; SESC Belenzinho, São Paulo and Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Brasília
2011-12 'Shadow Lines: India Meets Indonesia', part of Biennale Jogja XI at Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta
2011 'Crossroads : India Escalate', India Pavilion at Prague Biennale 5
2011 'Red', Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Take 2', Arushi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Paris-Delhi-Bombay', Centre Pompidou, Paris
2011 ‘Artzuid 2011’, Avenues of Berlage’s Plan-Zuid, Amsterdam
2011 'Concurrent India', Helsinki Art Museum Tennis Palace, Finland
2011 'Of Gods and Goddesses, Cinema, Cricket: The New Cultural Icons of India', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'India Awakens: Under the Banyan Tree', Essl Museum, Austria
2010 'Finding India: Art for the New century', presented by Sakshi Gallery at Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Taipei
2010 'Master’s Corner', organized by Indian Contemporary Art Journal at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; India International Art Fair, New Delhi
2010 'Emerging Asian Artists', as part of Art Gwangju 2010, KDJ Convention Center, Gwangju
2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'On the Road to the Next Milestone', part of the Exhibition 'Indian Highway', at Herning Museum of Contemporary Art (HEART), Herning
2010 'Roots', 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at The Park, Chennai
2009 'Expressions at Tihar', Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi
2009 'Failed Plot', part of KIAF 09 at COEX, Seoul
2009 'Contemporary Exoticism', Studio La Citta, Verona
2009 'Beyond Globalization', Beyond Art Space, Beijing
2009 'India Xianzai: Contemporary Indian Art', Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Shanghai
2009 Pulse New York, presented by Aicon, New York
2009 'ARCOmadrid', Spain represented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2009 'Arte Fiera 2009', Bologna represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2009 'CIGE 2009', China represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2009 'Contemporary Art from India', Palais Benedictine, Fecamp, France supported by Gallerie 88, Kolkata
2008-09 ''Modern India', organized by Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM) and Casa Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture at Valencia, Spain
2008 'Art Asia Fair/ Scope Miami 2008', represented by Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
2008 'Pulse Miami', represented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2008 Presented by 1x1 Art Gallery at Art Paris, Abu Dhabi
2008 SHContemporary, Shanghai represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2008 SHContemporary, Shanghai represented by Bodhi Art
2008 'Art Beijing 2008', represented by Bodhi Art, Mumbai
2008 'CIGE 2008', Beijing represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2008 Annual Show, Triva Contemporary, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
2008 'Harvest 2008', organized by Arushi Arts at The Stainless Gallery, New Delhi
2007-08 ‘Kashi 10 Light Years – Anniversary Show’, Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi
2007 ‘Think With Senses – Feel With Mind’, La Biennale Di Venezia, 52nd International Art Exhibition, Italy
2007 Presented by Willem Baars Projects at Art Amsterdam, Amsterdam
2007 'On The Edge of Vision: New Idioms In Indian and Italian Contemporary Art', organized by the Italian Cultural Institute in New Delhi in collaboration with the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai and New Delhi
2007 Annual Show, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2006 Annual Show, Viart, New Delhi
2005 World Social Forum Show, Brazil
2004-1999 ‘Harmony Show’, Mumbai
2002 Asian Art Festival, Singapore
Honours and Awards
2010 Fellowhip from Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala
1996 Hebbar Foundation Scholarship
1996 Bombay Art Society Award, Mumbai
1995 Maharashtra State Award
2010 Fellowhip from Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala
1996 Hebbar Foundation Scholarship
1996 Bombay Art Society Award, Mumbai
1995 Maharashtra State Award
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