There’s a rhythm in his work. Every sculpture and painting appears to be weaving music, movement and yet is a manifestation of the idea of tranquility. Renowned artist Balan Nambiar’s work is beyond the fixed parameters of abstraction. His creations over six decades give deep insight into the artist’s mind. A curated selection of his work over six decades is now on display at the Sculpting In Time — A Retrospective Show at the National Gallery of Modern Art.
Curated by Sadanand Menon and designed by Rm Palaniappan, the exhibition brings to the fore Nambiar’s seminal work — the series of photographs capturing Teyyam (ritual form of worship of North Malabar), and some of his mammoth sculptures, paintings and a video presentation that shows Nambiar at work. “Nobody has seen my entire body of work. It had been my desire to showcase it all as a one-man exhibition and this show combines five fields — my drawings, paintings, steel and stainless steel sculptures, jewellery enamel paintings and photography,” says Nambiar. While art enthusiasts are aware of his sculptures, few are aware of Nambiar’s Teyyam photo series. Captured over a period between the ’70s - ’90s, Nambiar’s photographs in a way, set the precedent for art photography that focused on the Teyyam rituals.
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The video presentation takes the viewer behind the scenes where the artist is actually at work. From executing his thought into a tangible material and getting it designed, to installing giant sculptures with precision keeping in mind the golden ratio (a mathematical concept), the presentation reveals the amount of work behind the artist’s creations. But there’s one painting that captures everyone’s attention — Nambiar’s 1964 painting of his room before he was officially enrolled as an art student. There will also be a panel discussion on his work, and art film screenings.
Until March 4. At NGMA, Palace Road
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