Man-animal conflict confrontation gets noted at Kochi Biennale Women artistes dazzle at Kochi Biennale

Kochi, March 14 (IANS) Artworks of two female artists is the center of attraction at the fifth edition of the ongoing Kochi Biennale.

Kochi, March 16 (IANS) An emotive artistic work that has an underlying reference to violence stemming from man-animal confrontations, exemplified by the brutal killing of a pregnant elephant by feeding it with explosive-laden pineapple, is getting noticed at the Kochi Muziris Biennale.

The tusker met with a horrific death at Ambalappara in Kerala's Palakkad district on May 27, 2020, after eating the fruit filled with country-made crackers which exploded in its mouth.

The blast was so powerful that the poor animal ran around the village in searing pain, unable to eat for days. Finally, it entered a river and stood there with its trunk and mouth immersed in water till it breathed its last two days later.

Shikh Sabbir Alam, a contemporary artist from Bangladesh, has now recreated this incident, which received worldwide attention.

Shikh Sabbir has put up a total of six acrylic paintings on display at the Biennale, including the works about the Garden; Magic House 1,2,3; Elephants and Fruit; and White Rabbit.

The creations which showcase the flora and fauna from tortoises to elephants and fruits resemble much like a dream. At the same time, it is mystical as well.

"My pictures resemble the vision that slowly materialiaes before you when you open your eyes after a long sleep.

The attempt is to guide viewers through the display of pictures using pastel colours to experience the wonders being depicted on the canvas.

The colour of a flower or a fruit is enough to inspire original creations," said Alam.

Nature and life are the main elements reflected in Alam's creations for the Kochi Biennale.

A distinctive video installation by noted Finland artist Martta Tuomaala is a harsh critique of existing socio-political scenarios with wide-ranging themes like misuse of power, administrative bias, unemployment, insecurity among workers, gender bias, moral policing, capitalism, rising inequality, and protest.

A black comedy, the video 'FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!' has been written, directed, and anchored by Martta. Though it mainly manifests the darker regions of Finland, viewers could make out a much broader perspective and connect with similar situations elsewhere.

Martta explains the theme of the video through the expert use of indoor cycling. Martta appears in the video, continuously pedaling her cycle. Despite sweating profusely, she couldn't gain an inch. This image is used to raise harsh criticisms and hurl arrows of black comedy reflecting the intolerable conditions prevailing in the socio-political field. The second one is about a young Malayali artist Mithra Kamalam reflects and recreates the hard struggles endured by women who are forced to stand within the boundaries imposed upon them in the real world, through her awe-inspiring creation at the Biennale.

The artwork, belonging to the series 'Corrective Measures' and put together using paintings and sculptural installations, stand apart with its uniqueness in layout as well. The unique inferences drawn by Mithra Kamalam that gets passed on to the viewer are thought-provoking.

The display at the Biennale by Mithra Kamalam is based on the painting on the subject of 'Sati' by Dutch illustrator Jan Huygen van Linschoten from the 16th century.

"To bring out the ideas churned inside, definitive themes, relevant quotes, and documents from history are sometimes assimilated.