26/11 a group art preview in Bangalore

26 11

26-28 November 2010 # 26, Ist Floor 7th Cross,, Wilson Garden Bangalore

Text: John Cheeran Design: VP Baalakrishnan

The Title 26/11 is much more than a coincidence.

When it was decided to open the space, ALTBLart collective, in November, this title provided a curatorial possibility. It also provides relevant context to reflect upon. 26/11 is not just another day but a significant one that stands for a set of problems that are implied with historical as well as contemporary aspects. It is a parable of our times. It stands for what should not have happened.

The artists’ works exhibited in this show does not form a deliberate recall of the incident. Instead it functions as a platform to bring divergent art practitioners under a single show. These works, however, definitely echo some underlying historical as well as contemporary aspects that form the peculiar characteristics of our time. Else, they are dealt with a set of codes or images that reflect certain social narratives- narratives of what exists as real (and thus legitimate) yet problematic. The real meaning of the artist’s work, probably, lies in an expectation, possibility of a reversal.

Gireesh GV, a documentary photographer and trained painter (MFA from SN School of Fine Arts & Performing Arts, Hyderabad Central University) has been photographing the political and cultural landscape in India.

Gireesh’s photographs have been widely published in magazines, including Outlook, Newsweek, Indian Express, Life Positive, Hindustan Times, Mint, INC India, Businessworld, Time Asia, Forbes India and India Today.

He resides in Bangalore, where he freelances documentary photography. He has shot pictures for a book on Bodhgaya- “Awakenings in Bodhgaya”—Back from Bodhgaya, the place where GauthamBudha achieved enlightenment, which was published by BTMC in 2010. +91 9448454494 gireeshgv@gmail.com http://www.gireeshgv.com

Live in realities Digital print on archival paper

Gireesh GV

Jyothilal T G

TG Jyothilal is a sculptor and its shows in his paintings, too. He has spent time at College of Fine Arts and College of Art in New Delhi.He has exhibited his murals, sculptures and paintings all over India and abroad. In 2006, Tyler Art Gallery, Philadelphia, honored him by holding an exhibition titled ‘The Wonder That Was India’.

He has won a set of awards both at state and national level, including National Exhibition of Art, Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy.

Jyothilal lives in Kalady, Kerala and is an assistant professor in sculpture at SreeSankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, kerala. +91 9447476372 tgjyothilal@gmail.com

Black Monuments II Water colour on paper

Surendran P Karthayan has remained true to his calling as a painter over the last two decades.

He had his formal training as a sculptor when he finished his Bachelor of Fine Arts from College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram in 1993.

He has held solo shows and exhibitions all over India.

Surendran has won a string of awards including Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi (2006, 1995), Lalitha Kala Regional Centre, Chennai (1992) and South Zone Cultural Centre, Thanjavur (2006).

Surendran at present lives works at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala +91 9746444512 surendrankarthyayan@gmail.com

Surendran P Karthayan

New Studies 01, 02 Water colour on paper

Vijayagopal C

Vijayagopal C is devoted to painting, 24x7. He is a product of College of Fine Arts, Thtiruvananthapuram, and completed his BFA in 1994. He also spent quality time at Institute of Fine Arts, Thrissur, honing his drawing skills. Vijayagopal has held solos and exhibitions all over India.

Vijayagopal lives and works in Palakkad, Kerala. +91 9446840739 vijygopal@yahoo.co.in

Existence Series I Water colour on paper

ShajuNellai is an academician-cum-painter. Nellai had his formal training as a painter at Kalabhavan, Santhiniketan, West Bengal, College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram and RLV Govt. College of Fine Arts, Thripunithura. He did his MPhil in Fine Arts at University of Calicut, Kerala.

Verge of running wounds Acrylic on canvas

He has held solos and exhibitions in India and abroad, including the Tyler Art Gallery, Philadelphia,USA. Nellai has written about elitist habits in sensibility in Kerala and is now writing a book on poet and painter Rabindranath Tagore.

He is a lecturer at department of painting SreeSankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala. +91 9847400711 nellaishaju@yahoo.com

Shaju Nellai

VP Baalakrishnan

Conflict as a central concept runs through his recent works. Images are used in the works’ functions as metaphors that reflect the implicit conflict within both existing and evolving culture. According to him, the irony within our culture and social systems is that it is often the protagonist himself who is or becomes the antihero.

He lives and works in Bangalore. +91 9916207974 vpbaalakrishnan@gmail.com www.vpbaalakrishnan.com

Basic aplhabets Mix media on paper

VP Baalakrishnan was born in 1969, Guruvayoor, Kerala.

ALTBL art collective is conceived as an interactive space for photographers and artists to meet and exhibit their work in an informal manner. The objective of ALTBL art collective is to function as a facilitator between a set of stakeholders in the Art world that includesartists, connoisseurs, critics and writers, curators, gallery owners and buyers.

We look forward to showcasing a series of exhibitions in the near future and 26/11 is a humble step towards that. www.altbl.com raj@altbl.com