With a proliferation in art residencies, in and around the city, Kochi finds itself at the heart of travelling artists. This is beginning to result in pop-up exhibitions and a delightful exchange of ideas, art and related conversations. One such thinking-on-your-feet show was recently held at OED gallery in Mattancherry by four artists from different parts of the world who met in Kottayam in a residency. On their return to the city, they worked on their takeaways from their stint in Kerala and India and put up a show, ‘Upon Arrival’ from materials found in and around their allocated little studio. “The whole idea was to create from materials available locally,” said Theodore Boyer who studied at the New York School of Visual Arts. He dyed fabric bought from a shop close by and worked with a tailor to translate his impressions of the Indian landscape. The series in black, rust and orange, with different textures, is a tribute to the scenic diversity of the land. “The idea of living in towns that are anywhere between four to ten thousand years old…the ancient culture ingrained into the modern… I am thinking about shapes, colours and moments,” he said adding that the experience has enriched his memory bank.
The meditative quietness in Kottayam let Los Angeles-based Joslyn Beta Lawrence assimilate the different inspirations till it “all exploded here”. Her work called Prayer For Women had images from Hindu ritual practices. “I have a deep spiritual life. This is puja,” said Joslyn who graduated in Spiritual Psychology. Her interest in environment is seen in her work using twigs, branches and roots.
The use of turmeric, vermilion and handloom in the installation are symbolic of puja. “This is my first puja, the theme will be carried forward,” she said.
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Scot Roxy Russell’s works deal with intangible and abstract elements and hence are deeply reflective. She is working on capturing movement of elements - water, sea, waves, sun and such. The result of movement on amorphous plaster is translated on fabric and paper with pencils.
Mitchell Boyle chose to do her residency in India with a purpose to discover her visual inheritance, being partly Indian from her father’s side. “For me it is more about the people,” she says and she spent her time here filling her sketch books. Some of her drawings - clotheslines, landscapes - are exhibited. But her most delightful work, a self portrait, and another image of her doll, which she had brought along, are attractive by sheer beauty of composition made on derelict wooden window board.
The works are exhibited at OED Gallery, Mattancherry.
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