Tactile and Intangible Melodies
Robin Passi
Tactile and Intangible Melodies by
Robin Passi
at the Romain Rolland Gallery Alliance Franรงaise 72, Lodhi Estate August, 2014
Arushi Arts
TACTILE AND INTANGIBLE MELODIES Robin Passi is a creative artist whose works move along the path between sculpture and relief, art and design and the art object and art installation. His work reflects his journey through the gamut of forms. He has managed to encapsulate the history of technology and the world of metonymy. In doing so he has been able to evoke the whole through a part, or use metaphors in intriguing ways; and he is able to provoke the audience to explore the universal meanings he is trying to convey. His present exhibition has used mirrors of different sizes to catch reflections of different parts of the environment which he then uses to create new relations between space and form. Using mirrors and wire-mesh, Robin uses the flow of the wire-mesh which pulls together the myriad of reflecting mirrors into a mythical stream of light. So in a sense he uses elements of the tactile and tangible world and evokes intangible myths. But like all myths there has to the some reality for their intangible messages to latch onto, to be believable. Would Homer have had the same impact with his Iliad had there been no Troy? If the city of Troy is the raw material for the epic of Homer, there are also day-to-day realities in our lives that give an artist food for thought. In this collection there are rusted sheets of metal that continue to etch out shapeless moments of the being of an object which has been cast away, but which still carries its past with it. The artist reawakens this past by giving it new exposure. Then, there are candelabras fashioned out of motor parts reminding one of how cars once had lamps for headlights. Here we see parts of a dead, forgotten past coming to life again in a new context. Another evocative series is that of his metal orbs with mirrors in them, which, when hung from trees remind one of how bird-lovers carry their caged song-birds to hang from their branches to hear their melodies. These mirror-encrusted globes evoke birdsong in the visual form of reflections. This series of works reflects the artist’s search for meaning from the raw material of day-to-day life, and in doing so he gives us hope for a future filled with creativity, variety and sensitivity. Suneet Chopra Art Critic, Writer.
I
n my work, I seek to explore universal questions about technology, the passage of time, individual
memories, and cultural histories. Just as my mirror-work pieces reflect on the surrounding environment, I also derive inspiration by searching for meaning in my day-to-day experiences. Through working with castaway materials; transforming a clutch plate into a candle stand or a crank shaft into a book case, I have found rich opportunities to draw out meaning and metaphor, as I explore how discarded objects continue to carry the past with them, and how that past might be reinvigorated in a new form and context. I employ the aesthetic contrast of rough, rusty metal and shiny polished glass, to suggest the tension between changing technologies and eras. My use of discarded mechanical and automotive parts – elements that drive forward motion – explores the interplay of obsolescence and forward progress. Finally, through provoking the audience to question their assumptions about how and when an object’s life or value ends, my work seeks to highlight an object’s inherent diversity, in function and meaning, as it evolves in form and purpose over time.
Robin Passi
24 Hanging Lanterns • Iron Bearing Mesh with Candle Holder • Dia 13”
Installation • Old Iron Mesh & Cement • L-78” x W-12” x H-50”
Mesh & Mirror Installation • Old Mesh, Bearing Inner & Mirror • Individual Size : L-22” x W-12” x H-36”, Total Installation Size : L-142” x W-12” x H-80”
Console • Recycled Iron Mesh and Automotive Paint in Silver Metallic Colour • L-96.6” x W-12” x H-32”
Bench • Recycled Iron Mesh and Automotive Paint in Silver Metallic Colour • L-96.6” x W-12” x H-16”, L-96” x W-12” x H-16”
Stools • Recycled Chain & Automotive Paint in Silver Metallic Colour • Dia-15” H-16”
Candle Stands • Clutch Plate with Iron Gear Plate • W-12” x H-14.5”
12 Resin Base Candle Stands • Resin & Iron Scrap • L-4” x W-4” x H-4”, L-4” x W-4” x H-6”, L-4” x W-4” x H-11”
12 Resin Base Tea Light Holders • Resin & Iron Scrap • Dia 3.5”, H-1.5”
Candle Holders • Clutch Plate with Iron Pipe • Dia 7”
Sculptural Bench • Cycle Chain Automotive Paint • Dia-15” x L-32”
Book Cases • Old Clutch Plate • L-11” x W-10.5” x H-11”
Wave • Mesh, Mirror & Bearing Inner • H-96”
Mirror Frame • Iron Flat Strip & Washer, Inner Bearing & Mirror • Dia-26”
Mirror Frames • Bearing & Mirror • Dia-10.5”
Lamp • Iron Pipe, Iron Chain & Iron Plate • W-36” x H-95”
Book Cases • Crank Shaft, Iron Rod, Glass Top & Metal Shelves • L-19” x W-19” x H-36”
Side Table • Resin & Iron Scrap • L-15” x W-15” x H-18”
12 Orbe Installations in Glass Boxes • Iron Bearing Mesh • H-28”
Robin Passi Robin Passi is a young artist who has held several solo exhibitions since 2011. Robin’s first Solo Art Exhibition was held at The Oberoi Hotel in New Delhi and his second Solo Exhibition on the Wagha Border was held at The Alliance Française, New Delhi in 2012. Robin’s most recent show was focused on recycled design, in which he transformed recycled metal objects into artistic design pieces; so crankshafts became candle stands, aluminum waste became a table and rusty strings the base of stools. In January 2014, Robin was invited to exhibit his works at the world renowned India Art Fair in the VIP Lounge, New Delhi, where he showcased 3 coffee tables, 2 pedestals, and 3 pairs of top stools. In February 2014, he was invited to exhibit his work at Gauri Khan’s Furniture Studio – The Design Cell in Mumbai. Currently over 20 pieces of his recycled metal artwork and bamboo pieces, including candle stands, serving trays, and tissue boxes are at the store. Several pieces of his recycled metal objects design works have also been accepted by The National Bal Bhavan, and are now part of their collection. Robin recently this year received the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art “Young at Art” Award, a prestigious young artist award for his contribution to Indian Contemporary Visual Art. Committed to giving back to society, Robin ensured that all the proceeds from his solo exhibitions were donated to The Delhi Society for the Welfare of Special Children, The Okhla Center, New Delhi. Furthermore, Robin is the author and photographer of a book entitled ‘The Beauty of Life’, which was published on behalf of DSWSC in 2012. After visiting DSWSC Robin was touched by the work that they were doing, to help under privileged children with special needs, gain access to the help they needed. To showcase the work they were doing, Robin proposed creating a book entitled ‘The Beauty of Life’ for them. The intent of this book was to capture portraits of the children and through the photographs which he took, he displayed the work that the NGO was doing to impact their lives. Robin published the book and held an exhibition of his digitally enhanced photographic prints on canvas. To expand his learning and knowledge in the areas of Art and Design, Robin attended two summer courses at Brown University: “Modern Rapid prototyping Techniques” and “Building a Better Mouse Trap” An Introduction to Design”. He also interned at the illustrious Heatherwick Studio in London.
THE DELHI SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF
SPECIAL CHILDREN
All proceeds from the Exhibition will go to The Delhi Society for Welfare of Special Children. Photographs & catalogue design by Robin Passi +91 9810075253 | rpdesign0@gmail.com | www.robinpassi.com