Lenin CP’s over two-decade-long tryst with bamboo was always inevitable. The 38-year-old artist says he grew up at Kottiyoor in Kerala’s Kannur district. The town is known for its Shiva temple and odapoovu which devotees buy to hang in their homes. The long strands of odapoovu , incidentally, are made from bamboo reed.
Lenin is in Bengaluru to showcase his art installations made from bamboo, at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (CKP). The exhibition, Hiraeth-A Pining For The Past, was inaugurated on May 2 by artist-curator Bose Krishnamachari and will be on till May 7.
Karnataka : Bengaluru : (Pic for Arpana's copy for Metro Plus) Hiraeth -Bamboo Art Exhibition by artist Lenin C P at Karnataka Chitra Kalaparishat on 04 May 2019. Photo : V Sreenivasa Murthy
The three installations are titled Reincarnation, Reflection and Reverie.
The first consists of a large shell and many smaller shells on what is meant to be the river bed; the second, a black base with flat bamboo pieces symbolising leaves and vines and last, the most elaborate, is meant to be plants gently swaying in the current. Interestingly, the effect of looking at a pond from under is magnified as light mimicking sunlight on the pond’s surface dances on the ceiling.
Tony Paul, CEO of Uravu, a non-profit organisation that focuses on rural empowerment while utilising the potential of bamboo, where Lenin is also Chief Designer, says: “Hiraeth is basically a Welsh concept of longing for home.”
Lenin conceived the concept three years ago and started working on it a year and a half years ago.
Karnataka : Bengaluru : (Pic for Arpana's copy for Metro Plus) Hiraeth -Bamboo Art Exhibition by artist Lenin C P at Karnataka Chitra Kalaparishat on 04 May 2019. Photo : V Sreenivasa Murthy
Tony adds, “All three installations are connected to water and are meant to look like it is underwater or looked at from above. That’s why we have kept the lighting also dim. These are Lenin’s childhood memories connected with water because he is coming from Kottiyoor, which is where a river called Baveli originates. His early childhood days were spent in Thusharagiri which is also famous for a waterfall. When he thinks about home, the first things that come to his mind are the rivers, the streams and the memories associated with that.”
As for which was the most challenging installation to create, Lenin says, “ All three were equally challenging.”
He is quick to signify that he is detached from his art. “Once it is created, that’s it.”
As for the challenges and fulfilment associated with bamboo art, Lenin says, “I get maximum satisfaction when I create a new form in bamboo. When using bamboo, every technique is challenging as each variety has different characteristics. I primarily use elephant bamboo and bamboo reed.”
Tony adds, “We are planning to have more exhibitions across the country. This is the inaugural event for our new sector. We have three more exhibitions planned in CKP before the end of 2019.”
Lenin says he joined Uravu in 1999 and was part of a workshop on creating Kerala temple art on bamboo. “It was after I joined the organisation that I started thinking of bamboo art seriously.”
He started by making visiting card holders and lampshades and for the next 10 to 12 years he made many crafts products.
Karnataka : Bengaluru : (Pic for Arpana's copy for Metro Plus) Hiraeth -Bamboo Art Exhibition by artist Lenin C P at Karnataka Chitra Kalaparishat on 04 May 2019. Photo : V Sreenivasa Murthy
Tony adds, “We realised he has an edge over other people in the way he conceives and makes the products. Slowly, his work evolved and he started creating bamboo art which can’t be considered craft products such as the shells. He was always given special treatment; he has his own work space. Around two years ago, we took him more seriously and built a studio for him. Ever since, he has been working completely on this, not focusing on crafts. Lenin epitomises what Uravu can do with bamboo.
As for Uravu’s aim, Tony says: “It’s a hardcore bamboo agency. We work in close connection and collaborate with Kerala State Bamboo Mission, the National Bamboo Mission, other bamboo agencies as well as the State government. Even this exhibition is an advocacy effort. We want people to realise the potential of bamboo. By promoting bamboo art and bamboo as more ‘serious’ material, people too will be more willing to pay more for crafts products and utility items. This will indirectly benefit the livelihood support programme we run for rural women. That’s one of the aims.
“Uravu is also a platform for people like Lenin. You come, you explore and you thrive.”
