Important Notice

To call Shibu Natesan’s style photorealism is to resort to an easy and not entirely accurate label. Instead, Natesan’s images must be recognized for the unique brand of hyperrealism they exhibit. The artist’s treatment of his subjects “…is not an extension of photography, but a crisp departure from it. He distorts the detail, flattens the depth of field, and employs the harshness of light and extent of shadow to pare down a figure or extend an... To call Shibu Natesan’s style photorealism is to resort to an easy and not entirely accurate label. Instead, Natesan’s images must be recognized for the unique brand of hyperrealism they exhibit. The artist’s treatment of his subjects “…is not an extension of photography, but a crisp departure from it. He distorts the detail, flattens the depth of field, and employs the harshness of light and extent of shadow to pare down a figure or extend an object into indefinable nuance. This is why, although Shibu’s paintings originate in magazine photographs, they gain a riddle-like, inexplicable quietness more often associated with the paintings of such masters if the enigmatic situation as Pierro della Francesca, Vermeer and Seuat” (Alchemy, Art Musings Gallery exhibition catalogue, 2005, not paginated).

In the present lot, a large canvas aptly titled Absence, the artist uses an everyday terrace scene as a vehicle to make a quiet comment on the dualistic nature of community and isolation – specifically on the fact that both can exist simultaneously, and that one can be lonely in a crowd. In the background a house is brightly adorned for a wedding, the celebration of diwali, the festival of lights, or some other joyous occasion. Yet the house and the seats in the foreground are strangely devoid of inhabitants. Although the open door and crumpled cushions speak of warm welcomes and comfortable conversations, there are none to be found in this scene.

It is such flawless juxtaposition of the everyday with the unanticipated that Natesan has perfected through his work. In disturbing his viewers’ worldviews, he is challenging them to question stories and situations before blindly accepting them. “Such shock contrasts and encounters create strong metaphors…Through the symbolism, the viewer is encouraged to shift and re-focus their gaze, and in many instances, to re-address their own socio-political beliefs” (Anne Fleetwood, Shibu Natesan: Vision Unlimited, Grosvenor Gallery exhibition catalogue, 2005, not paginated).

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