Explore metaphysical works that assess the impact of technology on our lives at the latest solo of leading inter-media artist Baiju Parthan, who returns to Mumbai after a decade
Monument, 3D rendering and photography, lenticular print, 2011
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In a 3D-like lenticular print titled Monument, inter-media artist Baiju Parthan imagines a school of sharks swirling above the iconic Gateway of India shrouded in a blue-orange sky. "Mumbai is an integral part of how I define myself. So, whether I want it or not, it does appear in a large number of my works — as painted street views, and also as a stage where virtual events are enacted," says 60-year-old Parthan. Incidentally, he will present his next solo in Mumbai, after a decade-long hiatus. "My work pace is erratic. I take a long time to conceptualise, ruminate upon and fine-tune my work. So, my output is limited," he explains.
Fructus Nubes 01, animated 3D lenticular, 2016
Tech effect
Presented by Art Musings, the exhibit titled, Necessary Illusions, showcases the Kerala-born artist's 20 recent works created using a mash-up of traditional and digital media. Parthan uses arcane symbols and contemporary photographic materials to create metaphysical landscapes, which assess the impact of technology on our life. For instance, in Big Data, a grid represents a world submerged under a warehouse of invisible data clouds from our smartphones. Meanwhile, Meta-Flora reflects shamanism as it pits the growth of a flower petal against the complex world of inanimate matter decay.
Meta-Flora, acrylic on canvas, 2016
Distort and distract
The show's title is inspired by Noam Chomsky's 1989 book, Necessary Illusions: Thought Control in Democratic Societies, that reflected the use of propaganda by political powers to distort perceptions and distract the population from major issues. "I had done some work on the theme around 1999 but I am re-addressing it from a different perspective, to suggest that we live in a 'post-fact' world where online virtual experiences and social media feeds construct our reality," says Parthan, one of the early exponents of new media art, who created interactive installation making use of computers in 1999.
Aqua Regia, acrylic on canvas, 2015
VRâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088is next frontier
Tracking the city's art scene in the decade, Parthan observes, "There is more experimental art than before. I am not totally sold on all that is being presented within the Indian contemporary art space. But I guess, all disruptive changes have pros and cons that we must accept." When we ask him if he has warmed up to the idea of Instagram art, he replies, "At the moment, I do not see myself working in the social media space, because I find it too confining for my kind of work. But I would vote for virtual reality as the ideal platform for producing art of the future."
Baiju Parthan
From September 14 to 19, 11 am to
7 pm AT Jehangir Art Gallery, Fort; FROM September 20 to October 20 AT Art Musings, Colaba.
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