Sudarshan Shetty, the new artistic director and curator of the third edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, talks about the forthcoming exhibition for contemporary art. By Devi Singh
Known for his sculptural installations, which debate conventions with the use of animated objects and the philosophical implications for mechanical life, Sudarshan Shetty, curator for the third edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale didn’t always have an inclination towards sculptures. “Before I went to art school I was really good at painting. I would imitate film posters; paint the likes of Amitabh Bachchan. But after joining art school the whole world opened up for me. I was really taken by the American artists of 50s and 60s, like Jasper John so I started making things which were very imitative of their work. I went to a sculpture school in Ahmedabad where I learnt a lot of sculpture techniques,” Shetty shares.
He was a participant in the first edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, curated by Bose Krishnamachari and Riyas Komu in 2012-13. The perennial theme of ‘existence’ is always seen in his works. “I have always been interested in the idea of duality that is mutually inclusive within the same space of experience. There are things that are seemingly opposite in nature but they can be brought together,” he says.
Taking over the mantle from Jitish Kallat, who curated the 2014-15 edition of the Biennale, Shetty’s first reaction was whether he would be able to pull it off. “It’s an enormous task. Every year KMB is growing,” he points out. But the sheer scale of KMB doesn’t deter his excitement. “It’s an enriching experience as I’ll get the opportunity to meet talented people across the globe,” he adds, “It’s about having constant conversations with my own practice and defining my own limitations every day but I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to do justice to it. Even if I’m able to match up to the standards set by the previous curators and maintain the reputation of the last two biennales I’ll be very happy,” he says.
For Shetty, location has played an important role. “We have showcased the multi-cultural cosmopolitan history of Kochi. There’s a confluence of people coming from abroad and India with local people which has contributed to the success of the biennale. The notion of a shared past which is interconnected and yet separating itself as a creative entity is amazing,” he informs.
KMB has definitely made a huge difference in evolving the art scene in Kochi, by placing it on the international cultural map.
photo Pankaj Kumar