" Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?"

"One of the great currents in the contemporary experience of art is that it seems to come out of the experience of the author"...Anish Kapoor

This exhibition presents the surrealist world of contemporary artist, Tikendra Kumar Sahu. Everyday objects and experiences gather layers of meanings and juxtapose with each other to create a new reality, closer and more true to the inner world of the artist.

The paintings are delicate and have an ephemeral quality about them. Yet the raw energy and starkness in the portrayal leaves a lasting memory in the minds of viewers. The paintings seek to capture mood in one still shot- the calmness and silence of the background in strike contrast to the vivid, often torturous images in the foreground.

The layers of meanings in the painting are often cultural, contextual and artistic in nature. Cultural meaning rooted in the deep subconscious of the artist gets depicted in unusual ways. Everyday life, the daily experience of living becomes an inspiration for the artist. The present triggers a memory from the - the past and the present moment merges with each other, time melts to create a mood, an essence. The imagery which depicts the mood is both sensuous and grostesque. The imagery is so starkly real and connects so strongly because they are balanced precariously on the edge of a half sleepy state where the real melts into the sublime.

This exhibition gives the viewers the time and space to feel the reality beyond the real. As Frida Kahlo says: "Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?"

Gayatri Menon

Gallery Beyond at INDIA ART SUMMIT 20 - 23 JAN 2011 Booth No C 23