A RETROSPECTIVE

P S  NANDHAN / SCULPTOR & PAINTER

CURATOR: GITA HUDSON   

Renowned artist P.S. Nandhan’s retrospective – enormous collection of artworks, comprising more than 100 works of granite and terracotta sculptures, drawings and paintings among others are on show at Chennai.

DAKSHINACHITRA presents and highlights the several decades long artistic journey of renowned artist   P. S Nandhan at VARIJA GALLERY, DAKSHINACHITRA MUSEUM, CHENNAI  from 1 April 2023 till 31 May 2023.

“Painter and sculptor P.S.Nandhan is a Cholamandal-based artist whose works occupy an important place within the legacy of the Madras Art Movement. Trained as a painter, he began working on sculpture from the 1970s onwards. Clay, a material familiar to him from childhood, and granite, which has rich tonal variations, are his favourite sculptural media. Using these, Nandhan creates images of people, creatures and deities such as the Buddha and Ganesha. Some of these works are inspired by folk deities and by the appearance of temple sculptures, particularly the shadows that appear between two sculptures in a temple tower,” says Gita Hudson, renowned artist and Curator of the show.

“Apart from sculpture, paintings and drawings are an important aspect of his creative practice.  His paintings and drawings encompass both figuration and abstraction and emerge from organic impulses, much like his sculptures that are spontaneously based on the forms he sees within a material. Featuring Nandhan’s sculptures, paintings and drawings created over the last several decades, this exhibition is a testimony to his creative prowess,” she added.

“Nandan is known primarily as a sculptor. However, paintings and drawings are an equally important aspect of his creative practice as he never abandoned two-dimensional media in his pursuit of sculpture. In the last few years, he has increasingly focused his energy on painting and drawing while sculpting intermittently,” Vaishnavi Ramanathan, famous artist and Curator from  Chennai remarked.

“His paintings and drawings encompass both figuration and abstraction and emerge from organic impulses, much like his sculptures that are spontaneously based on the forms he sees within a material,” Vaishnavi Ramanathan said.

The human experience, tradition, culture, desire and the stories that are stuffed with symbols and metaphorical languages perceived through his decades-long artistic journey will be thoroughly highlighted, explored, discussed and appreciated in the show.

A documentary on the artist by Gita Hudson, curator of the show will be presented.

A book is in the making and will be released during the exhibition.

 VENUE:

VARIJA GALLERY, DAKSHINACHITRA MUSEUM, CHENNAI (10 AM- 6 PM/TUESDAYS CLOSED)