‘Possible Effects’ which opens today at Muse art gallery will have sketches, paintings, murals and sculpture that urge us to think of the effects of knowledge vs. ignorance and the relation we share with our environment.
The artist behind the project, Manohar Chiluveru, doesn’t look at this exhibition as a solo show. “This is the beginning of a series of events,” he says.
A sculpture of a thinking man positioned on a mushroom of nuclear waste is a prototype of a 30-feet sculpture he is planning to exhibit at the tenth edition of Florence biennale, October 17 to 25, at Fortessa da Basso.
On view at Muse will be 20 works that include conceptual drawings juxtaposed with text. Manohar conceptualised this project inspired by T.S. Eliot’s poem ‘The Rock’. “Come to think of it, ignorance can be as destructive as a nuclear explosion. The sculptures and paintings explore the idea of applying knowledge in different aspects of life, from education to health, sustainable living to environment, and the possible effects of allowing ignorance to rule over knowledge and wisdom,” he says.
Through the prototype sculpture of the thinking man, the artist wants to draw our attention to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “A nuclear destruction of that scale was a result of human action and it affects all of us physically, environmentally and psychologically,” says Manohar. Through his work, he explores the possibility that we are producing potential seeds of nuclear explosion in our daily lives, which will inevitably change the way we live but we do not fear it since we are unable to fathom the long-term repercussions.
“This project takes references from history of war and the way we live today. Apart from Hyderabad, I am planning to exhibit the sculptures in other districts of Telangana as well,” says Manohar.
In June, Manohar will be travelling to Barcelona for a residency programme and plans to exhibit some of his works there. “Art fairs, in general, are about business, whereas biennales turn out to be huge art exchanges. It’s a matter of pride that I’ve been selected for the Florence biennale,” he says.
Extending the idea of ignorance vs. knowledge, he also wants to draw viewers’ attention to the relationship between Man and Earth, touching upon carbon footprint and environment destruction.
One of the proposed installations will have sculptures of a group of men doing a balancing act with an egg and spoon. He hopes to display this installation in a public space. On display at Muse will be a chessboard mural with several objects becoming a pawn in the hands of the two players who are policy makers.
The intent of the art project, he reiterates, is to engage viewers. “Participation is integral to complete a piece of art,” he sums up. In 2015 and 16, Manohar hopes to take the project to several art fairs and exhibitions in India and abroad.
