|
|
Surendran Nair
|
|
|
Born in 1956 in Onkkoor, Kerala, Surendran Nair did his BFA (Painting) from College of Fine Arts, Kerala in 1982 and Post Diploma (Printmaking) from M.S.U. Baroda four years later.
The artist, well known internationally, uses a mixture of traditional and contemporary imagery, including cinema posters and political graffiti, in his work. His paintings can be, in turn, mischievous, ironic and quizzical as they inject a gentle...
Read More
Born in 1956 in Onkkoor, Kerala, Surendran Nair did his BFA (Painting) from College of Fine Arts, Kerala in 1982 and Post Diploma (Printmaking) from M.S.U. Baroda four years later.
The artist, well known internationally, uses a mixture of traditional and contemporary imagery, including cinema posters and political graffiti, in his work. His paintings can be, in turn, mischievous, ironic and quizzical as they inject a gentle surrealism into prevailing notions of reality. As if recycling traditions from a cultural encyclopaedia, he meticulously constructs a web of images - mythic, modern, classical and mundane - growing out of the body of cosmic man.
In his body of his work titled 'Corollary mythologies', Nair weaves together visual strands from both Indian and Western art and mythology to create new and idiosyncratic icons. By intentionally leaving the works open to interpretation from multiple viewpoints, he nurtures a dialogue on crucial issues for the future in India concerning the community and the individual.
According to the artist, this particular series is about belonging and dissent. He notes: "I imagine it to have political undertones, however subtle, which is informed of History, mythology, real and imaginary events. Art history, notions of tradition and identity and its relationship with modernity, of language, sexuality, politics, religious and other faiths etc. Without emphasizing any of these in particular, I address these issues simultaneously. Sometimes rendered sentimentally, literally, cryptically or otherwise metaphorically oblique, they are both detached and reflective and at times often with a mischievous gaze, making innocent jokes, and at other times being ironical and quizzical too."
His painting titled 'An actor rehearsing the interior monologue of Icarus' at a group show to be held at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi attracted controversy. It was contended that Nair's work depicting a naked Icarus, the Greek mythological figure, on top of the Ashoka Pillar, could not be used within a government institution. Nair then withdrew from the show as a mark of protest. He wanted to know how the painting could be constituted as a slight to a national symbol.
He has had several solo shows of his work exhibitions apart from participating in prominent group exhibitions. Among his select shows are Graphic Prints, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1986; India in Switzerland, Centre Genevois de Gravure Contemporain, Geneva, 1987; The Labyrinth of Eternal Delight, Campbelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery, Sydney, and Casula Power House, 1996; The New South, Delphina Studio Gallery, London, 1996; 6th Biennale of Contemporary Art, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, 1996; New Shoes for Mercury, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 1997; The Search Within, Kloster Pernegg, Graz, Austria, and The National Gallery of Modern Art, Delhi, 1998; The 1st Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan, 1999; Capital and Karma - Recent Positions in Indian Art, Kunsthalle Wien, Vienna, Austria, 2002.
The artist lives and works in Baroda.
Read Less
Born
1956
Ornakoor, Kerala
Education
1986 Post Diploma (Print Making), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
1982 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting), College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum
1981 Diploma in Painting, College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum, Kerala
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2017 'Cuckoonebulopolis: (Flora...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2017 'Cuckoonebulopolis: (Flora and) Fauna', Aicon Gallery, New York
2015 'Spatial Arrangements of Colours, Lines, Forms and Desires', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2015 'Surendran Nair: Drawings, Print and Watercolours (1970s-1990s)', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New delhi
2010 'Neti Neti', Frey Norris Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2009 'Pernoctation and Early Drawings', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at Darbar Hall, Kochi, Kerala
2008-09 'Pernoctation and Early Drawings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘The Bad Behaviour of Singularities’, presented by Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2005 ‘The Bad Behaviour of Singularities’, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 ‘Corollary Mythologies’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
1998 ‘Works on Paper’, Galerie Foundation for Indian Artists, Amsterdam
1997 'The Labyrinth of Eternal Delight', Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
1997 Atelier 2221, New Delhi
1996 ‘The Labyrinth of Eternal Delight’, Cambelltown City Bicentennial Art Gallery, Sydney and Casula Power House
1995 'Paintings and Drawings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
1990 ‘Paintings and Drawings’, Gallery 7, Mumbai
1989 'Drawings, Graphics and Paintings', CMC Arts Gallery, New Delhi
1989 'Landscapes and Other Drawings', Vithi, Vadodara, Gujarat
1986 ‘Graphic Prints’, Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Ernakulam, Kerala
Selected Group Exhibitions
2014 'In-Between', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2012 'Diva', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2012 'Aqua', Gallery Beyond, Mumbai
2012 'Contemporary: A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art', prsented by Sakshi Gallery at The Park, Chennai
2012 'Sightings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2011-12 'Back to School: Baroda 1979-89', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'Anecdotes', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'Pause: A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon
2011 'Back to School: Baroda 1979-89', Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
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 'Singularities', RL Fine Arts, New York
2009 'Zip Files', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009 'Inaugural Show', Sakshi Gallery, Taipei
2009 'Bapu', presented by Saffronart in association with Berkeley Square Gallery, London
2008 'Anxious', Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai
2008 'Indi Genius', presented by Sakshi Gallery and SOKA Contemporary Space, Taipei at Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Horn Please: Narratives in Indian Contemporary Art’, Kunnst Museum, Bern, Switzerland
2007 Inaugural Show, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘El Filo del Deseo - Arte Reciente en India’, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey MARCO, Mexico
2006 'Edge of Desire: Recent Art In India', National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) at New Delhi and Mumbai
2005 'Edge of Desire: Recent Art In India', Asia Society Museum, New York; Tamayo Museum, Mexico City; Museum of Contemporary Art, Monterrey, Mexico; Asian Art Museum of San Francisco; Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto
2004 'Edge of Desire: Recent Art In India', The Art Gallery Of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
2004 ‘In Transit – II’, in cooperation with Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at Alexander Ochs Galleries Berlin / Beijing, Berlin
2003 ‘Under The Skin of Simulation’, The Fine Art Resource, Berlin
2003 'The Tree From The Seed: Contemporary Art From India', Henie Onstad Center, Oslo, Norway
2003 'Highlights', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
2002 ‘Kapital and Karma: Recent Positions in Indian Art’, Kunsthalle Wein, Austria
2002 ‘New Indian Art: Home – Street – Shrine – Bazaar – Museum’, Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester, UK
2002 'Creative Space', Sakshi Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2001 'Home and The World', India Centre of Art & Culture, New York
2001 'Palette 2001', India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2000 'Celebration of the Human Image', India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2000 'Exile and Longing', Lakeeren, Mumbai
2000 'Combine: Voices of the Century', Visa-Vis & Art Inc, New Delhi
2000 'Family Resemblances', Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
2000 'SPIN', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
1998 'Cryptograms', Lakeeren, Mumbai
1998 'Four Person Show', Nature Morte, New Delhi
1998 'The New South', Delphina Studio Gallery, London
1997 ‘Gift for India’, organized by SAHMAT at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1997 'Rediscovering The Roots', Lima, Peru
1997 'Khoj', British Council Gallery, New Delhi
1997 'Indian contemporary Art: Post Independence', organized by Vadehra Gallery at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
1996-97 ‘Fire and Life’, with Jon Cattapan at Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda; Gallery Chemould, Mumbai and Monash University Gallery, Melbourne
1996 ‘The New South’, Delphina Studio Gallery, London
1993 'Postcards for Gandhi', An Exhibition organized by SAHMAT
in Six Different Cities
1992 'Journey Within Landscapes', Sakshi Gallery and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1991-92 'Images and Words', a Traveling Exhibition organized by
SAHMAT for Communal Harmony
1991 'Nest for Sparrow', Artists Centre, Mumbai
1987 ‘India in Switzerland: Works on Paper’, Centre Genevois de Gravure Contemporain, Geneva
Joint Exhibitions
1999 'Imagined Spaces', With Rekha Rodwittiya at The Noosa City Council Art Gallery, Queensland, Australia
1986 With N N Rimzon at Gallery 7, Mumbai
Participations
2013 'The Naked and the Nude: The Body in Indian Modern Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2012 'Crossings: Time Unfolded, Part 2', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
2011-12 'Contemporary Miniatures', Traveling Exhibition from Queensland Art Gallery Collection at Redcliffe City Art Gallery; Gladstone Regional Art Gallery & Museum; Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery; Artspace Mackay; Logan Art Gallery; Mundubbera Regional Art Gallery; Perc Tucker Regional Gallery; Gympie Regional Gallery; Outback Regional Gallery, Winton, Australia
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose
2011 'Of Gods and Goddesses, Cinema, Cricket: The New Cultural Icons of India', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
2011 'The Intuitive: Logic Revisted', from the Osians Collection at The World Economic Forum, Davos, Switzerland
2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern and Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA
2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 'Roots', 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at The Park, Chennai
2009 'Art Miami', presented by Frey Norris Gallery, San Francisco
2009 'ARCOmadrid', Spain presented by curator Bose Krishnamachari for 'Panoroma: India'
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 Sakshi Show, Darbar Hall Art Centre, Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Kochi, Kerala
2008 Art Taipei, Taipei
2007 SH. Contemporary, Shanghai
2007 Art Miami, Miami
2007 Art Singapore, Singapore
1999 1st Triennale of Asian Art, Fukuoka, Japan
1999 3rd Asia Pacific Triennale, Queensland Art Gallery, Australia
1998 'The Search Within', Indo Austrian Exhibition, Pernegg Monastery and Salzburg, Austria and National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi and Mumbai
1997 9th Triennale, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi
1996 6th Biennale of Contemporary Art, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Honours and Awards
2010 Montalvo Artist Residency, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Sartoga,...
2010 Montalvo Artist Residency, Montalvo Center for the Arts, Sartoga, CA
2004 Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship, Perugia, Italy
1997 Two Month Residency by the Noosa City Council Gallery with Rekha Rodwittiya
1996-97 'Fire and Life', an Indo-Australian Exchange Residency with Jon Cattapan, in Baroda- India and Melbourne-Australia
1995 Artist in the Community, U. W. S. MacArthur and Casula Power House, Sydney
1992 Artist-in-Residence, Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Arts, Oxford on a Charles Wallace Grant
Read More Read Less
|
|
|
|
|
PAST AUCTIONS
Showing
4
of
72
works
PAST StoryLTD AUCTIONS
Showing
4
of
15
works
EXHIBITIONS
Showing
4
of
5
works
Need help? For more information on Indian Art, please see our Art Guide. For help
with buying through Saffronart please click here. If you have any other questions, please contact us.
|