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Om Soorya paints surreal landscapes that are occupied by both negative and positive energies, which he depicts in many different forms. His use of pigment is fluid and intuitive. The mood created by his rich deep t...
Om Soorya paints surreal landscapes that are occupied by both negative and positive energies, which he depicts in many different forms.
His use of pigment is fluid and intuitive. The mood created by his rich deep tones and lines, which vary from crisp to watery blurs, is much like a twilight zone – the time in-between events; neither here nor there. The absence of figuration in Soorya’s works renders these already isolated environments even more abandoned, making them seem as though they are frozen in time and space.
Soorya has always maintained that aesthetics are just as important as content. Lighting plays an integral role in creating the transcendental feel that his paintings have, as also in giving them their ethereal glow. Together with the other elements of his compositions, it enables the viewer to sense the fragile relationship between the meditative Zen-like quality of the painting and the overwhelming anxieties of material living.
As the artist notes, “My recent works are an extension of the style of painting which I have been practicing for a few years. When I started this language, my main concern and challenge was how to have a dialogue between the conventional idea of painting and new urban visions; how to bring a meditative space of silence from new urban complexities. The new Indian urban man satisfies his spiritual and meditative sensualities by visually consuming the new landscape from a very different perspective. In reality we don’t have time to spend enjoying a sunset or sunrise. Everywhere there is wall in the wall, a very flat surface of ideas. What all we have is a breath of silence when we see a panoramic night view from our apartment terrace. The urban man has limited his spiritual quest to his new possible positive visual sensibilities. In a very informative world chatting on the internet has assumed the form of chanting mantras. Surfing has become a kind of mediation. The new generation has learned to consume an alternative physical space for its own existence. Here my paintings are limited to explore these possibilities of visual sensibilities. While the world is shrinking to the space of a shell, the imaginative space is exploding to new sensibilities. By creating a very personalized landscape of language what I want to provide is a breathing meditative space of visual reality.”
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BIODATA
Om Soorya paints surreal landscapes that are occupied by both negative and positive energies, which he depicts in many different forms.
His use of pigment is fluid and intuitive. The mood created by his rich deep tones and lines, which vary from crisp to watery blurs, is much like a twilight zone – the time in-between events; neither here nor there. The absence of figuration in Soorya’s works renders these already isolated environments even more abandoned, making them seem as though they are frozen in time and space.
Soorya has always maintained that aesthetics are just as important as content. Lighting plays an integral role in creating the transcendental feel that his paintings have, as also in giving them their ethereal glow. Together with the other elements of his compositions, it enables the viewer to sense the fragile relationship between the meditative Zen-like quality of the painting and the overwhelming anxieties of material living.
As the artist notes, “My recent works are an extension of the style of painting which I have been practicing for a few years. When I started this language, my main concern and challenge was how to have a dialogue between the conventional idea of painting and new urban visions; how to bring a meditative space of silence from new urban complexities. The new Indian urban man satisfies his spiritual and meditative sensualities by visually consuming the new landscape from a very different perspective. In reality we don’t have time to spend enjoying a sunset or sunrise. Everywhere there is wall in the wall, a very flat surface of ideas. What all we have is a breath of silence when we see a panoramic night view from our apartment terrace. The urban man has limited his spiritual quest to his new possible positive visual sensibilities. In a very informative world chatting on the internet has assumed the form of chanting mantras. Surfing has become a kind of mediation. The new generation has learned to consume an alternative physical space for its own existence. Here my paintings are limited to explore these possibilities of visual sensibilities. While the world is shrinking to the space of a shell, the imaginative space is exploding to new sensibilities. By creating a very personalized landscape of language what I want to provide is a breathing meditative space of visual reality.”
2004 Master of Fine Arts (Painting), University of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2002 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting), College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala University, Kerala
1998 Graduated in History from Calicut University, Kerala
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010 The Guild, New York
2009 'Grass-Hope', Galleria Dell'Arco, Shanghai
2008 ‘Trans (CE) locations’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 ‘White Clouds: The Finishing Point’, The Guild , Mumbai
2007-08 ‘Random Mirrors in the City of Villagers', The Guild, New York
2007 ‘Since 1977’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Mumbai
2006 ‘Franklin Templeton Investments’, State Gallery of Fine Arts, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2004 ‘Earthworm a Prophet’, Diara Gallery, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2011 'Fragility', Art Alive Gallery, Gurgaon
2010 'Love to Live', Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008-09 ‘Effetto Stalker # 2’, Galleria Dell’Arco, Palermo, Italy
2008 ‘Interlude: Venice/Kassel’, organized by The Guild, Mumbai at Jehangir Nicholson Art Gallery; National Centre for Performing Art (NCPA), Mumbai
2007 'Self and the Selfless', Hasta Gallery, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2007 ‘Linkages/Dialogues’, The Guild, Mumbai
2007 Nature Morte, New Delhi
2007 ‘Urban Smiles’, Project 88, Mumbai
2006 Artist in Residency at Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2006-07 ‘Reflections’, Art Elements Gallery, New Delhi.
PARTICIPATIONS
2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009 Prohelvetica Residency, Zurich
2009 'Art HK 09', Hong Kong presented by The Guild, Mumbai
2009 'Arte Fiera 2009', Bologna represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2009 'Revolving Boundaries', Artist-in-Residence Program, Galleria dell’Arco, Palermo, Italy; Shanghai, China
2008 'CIGE 2008', Beijing represented by The Guild, Mumbai
2006 Artist in Residence at Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2003 Participated in Peers Khoj, Residency, New Delhi
2001 National Workshop College of Art, New Delhi
2009 Prohelvetica Residency, Zurich
2009 Artist-in-Residence, Galleria dell’Arco, Palermo, Italy; Shanghai, China
2007 Received the Emerging Artist Award in 2007, Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art (FICA)
2007 Residency form The Guild, New York at Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi
2006 Artist in Residence at Kalakriti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
2003 Peers Khoj Residency, New Delhi
