Important Notice

Born and raised in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, Surendran Nair’s creative process and body of work has been acutely influenced by the experiences and memories of his early years there. In addition to the personal, Nair’s paintings, with their complex iconography and narratives, are shaped by the artist’s immense database of trivia, covering fields as diverse as Greek and Hindu mythology, art and film history and international politics.... Born and raised in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, Surendran Nair’s creative process and body of work has been acutely influenced by the experiences and memories of his early years there. In addition to the personal, Nair’s paintings, with their complex iconography and narratives, are shaped by the artist’s immense database of trivia, covering fields as diverse as Greek and Hindu mythology, art and film history and international politics. “Surendran Nair’s visual language evolves from the mythical and iconic representations presented through the realm of imagination. By placing archetypal motifs in the current political and social contexts, Surendran builds an unusual narrative, often questioning, humouring and even contesting the traditional/cultural notions of the nation/state/individual. By subtly rupturing the romantic notion of cultural heritage, he questions identity and nationality in the face of globalization” (Arshiya Lokhandwala, Exile and Longing: Emerging Art Practices from Kerala, Lakeeren Art Gallery exhibition catalogue, 2000, unpaginated).

In his body of his work titled ‘Corollary Mythologies’, Nair weaves together visual strands from both Indian and Western art and mythology to generate new and idiosyncratic icons. The new worlds he creates spout from the belly button of his protagonists, and range from bleak and shadowy to vivaciously animate. By intentionally complicating their titles and imager, and leaving the works open to interpretation from multiple viewpoints, the artist hopes to nurture a dialogue on community and individual issues crucial to the future of India.

According to Nair, this particular suite of works addresses themes of belonging and dissent. He notes, “I imagine it to have political undertones, however subtle, which are informed of history, mythology, real and imaginary events, art history, notions of tradition and identity and their relationship with modernity, of language, sexuality, politics, religious and other faiths etc. Without emphasizing any of them 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” (Corollary Mythologies, Sakshi Gallery exhibition catalogue, 1998, unpaginated).

Read More
Artist Profile
Other works of this artist in: this auction  |  entire site