On exhibition are recent sculptures that are cast from his own body, mono prints and a heat sensitive work revealing itself only at a certain temperature. Balasubramaniam challenges, teases, defies viewers' perceptions of space, material, light and possibility. His works expose the subjective nature of perception and also our vulnerability to illusions.
Talwar Gallery is pleased to announce an
exhibition of recent major sculptural works
and monoprints by A. Balasubramaniam.
This is the artist's first solo exhibition in the
U.S.
On exhibition are recent sculptures that are
cast from his own body, mono prints and a
heat sensitive work revealing itself only at a
certain temperature. Self in progress is a
startling life size installation of a man
appearing to be seated inside a wall, his
seated part of the body is visible from one
side of the wall and his legs are emerging
from the other side of the wall. Another work
shows an arm tugging on a rope attached to
the wall from across it, seemingly peeling off
its surface. In the installation Torch, a light
beam appearing to be emerging from the floor
casts a shadow on the wall, which on close
inspection reveals its true nature. A series of
monoprints executed with impressions of heat
are also on exhibit.
Balasubramaniam challenges, teases, defies
viewers' perceptions of space, material, light
and possibility. His works expose the
subjective nature of perception and also our
vulnerability to illusions. The playfulness of
Bala's installations is juxtaposed with a sound
conceptual grounding where the artist
through works cast with his own body,
challenges the viewer to believe or disbelieve,
what they know or see. By questioning the
very nature of their reality and its limits the
viewer is urged to accompany the artist
through the seemingly permeable wall of
matter as in Self in progress, and in the
process discover the malleability of their
perception and the infinitude of possibilities
and experience.
A. Balasubramaniam was born in Tamil Nadu,
India and was educated at the Government
College of Arts in Madras, India (1992-95). He
then went on to study at Edinburgh
Printmakers, Scotland in 1997 and in 1999 at
Universitat fur Angewandte Kunste in Vienna,
Austria. For the former he was awarded the
Charles Wallace Trust Arts Fellowship and for
the latter he was the recipient of the
UNESCO Bursary. More recently, in 2001, the
artist was awarded the Kunstlerdorf
Fellowship in Germany and Fundacio pilar I
Joan Miro Award in Spain and the Third
Sapporo International Print Biennale Award in
1995. He was artist in residence at Mac
Dowell Colony in the United States in 1998.
The artist has participated in various solo and
group exhibitions in India, Spain, Poland,
Korea, Japan, Finland and Germany. His
exhibition of Multimedia sculptures and prints,
Within the Void was held at The Queens
Gallery at the British Council, New Delhi in
2000. More recently held solo exhibition
include at the British Council, Madras, India
earlier this year and in 2001 at Alliance
Francaise de Bangalore, India.
A. Balasubramaniam lives and works in Chennai
(Madras), India.
Talwar Gallery 108 East 16 Street New York NY 10003
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 6 pm