INpLAY

IN COLLABORATION WITH T. VENKANNA 

The act of drawing is an organic extension of Venkanna’s imagination. It is the manner in which he observes, interacts with, and communicates with the world.
In his expressive worldview, the body becomes the site of both mundane and
complex discussions at the core of human existence. The anonymous, yet familiar bodies act as markers of resistance and discovery. There is a play of concealment and revelation as they grapple with changing realities. Conceptually, it reiterates the significance of the body as a motif and as a symbol of social commentary. These forms appear rooted at times; at others they seem untethered - unconforming to social mores and boundaries. They are undisciplined, and unboxed – yet they present their vulnerabilities to external gaze. Notions of belonging, control, access, censorship, shame and privacy become part of the dialogue.
For this project with architect Rooshad Shroff, the drawings were born as a
spontaneous response to the individual pieces of furniture. The drawings were then translated into marble inlay by master craftsmen from Agra and then carefully inlayed into recycled old Burma teak wood. This unique collaboration does more than just blur the lines between art, design and craft. It takes recognisable forms such as sofas and coffee tables and turns them into objects of contemplation.