BackIndia Art Fair | Man and machine
Don't miss Tallur LN's 'Path Finder' at the IAF this year
Premium
A statue of a middle-aged man, sitting with his legs crossed, faces a spinning car tyre that smears him with wet clay. That’s the way life treats many of us, every day, and yet we manage to carry on, resigned to what we have, but also resilient, refusing to be run over.
It takes a mind as witty and inventive as Tallur L.N.’s to visualize, vividly and acutely, what must be a quintessential experience of modern life. The Bangalore-born artist’s installation, Path Finder, at the India Art Fair this year is as sharply satirical as it is filled with pathos. Also part of his current solo exhibition, UKAI (Cormorant Fish Hunting), at the Nature Morte gallery in New Delhi, this Buddha-like figure is resonant with the dilemmas of existence. Is it best to remove oneself from the race and seek inner peace, he seems to be wondering. Would that be defeatist or hugely empowering? Typically, Tallur does not provide any clues, let alone answers; he only keeps the flicker of doubt alive in the viewer.
Trained in museology, Tallur brings to his art a distinctly contemporary sensibility that was formed by his absorption in traditional materials. Carvings reminiscent of classical temple architecture appear in striking contrast to two lifesize male figures made of aluminium. The prices of stocks flash on an LED screen on the wall. A basin filled with coins and incense, commonly seen in shrines and temples in the subcontinent, refers to another kind of neurosis with money. Two emaciated terracotta figures lie enclosed in vitrines, becoming part of a work called, with grim humour, Balanced Diet.
The insidious depth of capitalism that these works collectively insinuate is most palpable in the title of the show. “Ukai" is a fishing technique using cormorants that was first developed in Japan. The fisherman ties a snare near the base of the bird’s throat to prevent it from swallowing fish bigger than a certain size. The contraption is then used to recover the catch, leaving the birds frustrated—so close to their prey, yet unable to enjoy it.
The global labour force that keeps the wheels of our capitalist economies well-oiled may well be able to identify this ironic predicament in their own lives.
Tallur L.N. is at Booth no. E3 at the India Art Fair. His solo show, UKAI (Cormorant Fish Hunting) is on till 8 February at the Nature Morte gallery, New Delhi. Click here for details.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
