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Frozen figures in glass
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An exhibition of glass relief sculptures by Hyderabad-based artist Sisir Sahana is on at the Apparao Galleries till July 31. A review.
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AN EXHIBITION of glass relief sculpture by Hyderabad-based artist Sisir Sahana is rooted in the concept of being `frozen in time.' The series of works on which he has been working for the past decade metaphorically speaks of excavating fossils from the past, unearthing what has been set in stone.
Creating cast glass sculpture is more a process of fossilisation than excavation, for Sisir inters memories of reality within the translucent recesses of glass committing them to preservation for posterity. The medium of glass being organic crystallised stone suits the theme of fossilisation that is vaguely reminiscent of Jurassic age fossils frozen in amber. An exotic medium immersed in Western tradition, the culture of working with glass as a means of artistic expression is practically non-existent in India. Glass articles are usually relegated to a utilitarian existence and not considered fine art as in the West.
According to the artist, "A thorough knowledge of technique is important for a full and lucid expression within the medium of glass as it becomes the tool with which one can effectively illustrate any concept. Working with glass is complex and technical. Hence, few artists work in the medium. Good infrastructure, equipment and sound techniques are required to produce the desired images." His work has its basis in the Indian ethnic milieu, for Indian tradition is strong in painted sculpture.
Having trained in the stained glass technique at Central Saint Martins, London, Sisir has moved away from the traditional craft method in favour of working in relief techniques that are more creative, sculptural and expressive of his ethnicity as an Indian. Initially, he was plagued by methodological problems pertaining to the medium but by experimental learning he is able to creatively express himself, as the technical handicaps have been resolved. As an artist working in different media such as painting and glass sculpture, he maintains different identities for each, as he believes that each should be respected for its capabilities and limitations.
According to Sisir, "Glass sculpture necessitates minimal formats while painting can be elaborately detailed, yet the former can be expressed in the third dimension and can use light to great advantage. Ideas keep changing and with them the challenges keep coming and there is the creativity to keep me going."
`Nature's phenomena' is representative of the culture within which the Indian woman is situated — work, cooking and religion. Sisir is "inspired not by mythology but by philosophy and the existence of mankind. Religion comes associated with life. As an Indian, one cannot run away from religion and attachment. Family and religious sentiments are with you, maybe imposed, but they are there." `Princess' is frozen in time for the figure itself is a fossilised object that is being discovered. The object becomes the subject when he interprets the idea through the glass, and that subject is the fossilisation of images. The soul may not remain but the physical presence is present.
His cast glass sculptures are images that are wrapped in layers of clear glass through which they can be seen. This is a technically complex process, which is also time-consuming, for the glass has to be made from raw materials. This is the fusion of science, technology and creativity to develop art. Glass is not very forgiving for fragility necessitates technical precision and exactitude, yet creativity cannot be compromised. Each work may be seen as a fragment of time encapsulated forever with the silence of the soul living on within. The show is on at the Apparao Galleries till July 31.
SWAPNA SATHISH
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Bangalore
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Thiruvananthapuram
Visakhapatnam
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