Sushisurge’s canvases discover evolving personas in Hyderabad

Works displayed on the gallery
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association

Ideas associated to migration and the thought of ‘personas’ have at all times intrigued Hyderabad-based artist Sushisurge (Sushant Sharma). Having moved from Chandigarh to Bengaluru, Delhi and now Hyderabad, the artist explores how emotional adjustments and numerous identities one adopts whereas traversing by unfamiliar cities, cultures and communities impression our sense of self.

His first solo present, Folks Who By no means Have been, options 10 hand-painted canvases that revolve across the theme of the various personas we stock inside ourselves. A hanging black-on-black canvas with simply eyes gazing on the viewer, or summary faces on different canvases draw the eye of holiday makers “Most of my work has to do with how lives rework once we transfer to cities, as a result of I’ve additionally moved rather a lot,” he says.

The exhibition additionally showcases ceramic items he created in collaboration with Pooja Chamudiya.

Evolving character

The artist admits his artwork entails lots of self-reflection. He considers himself fortunate to have lived in welcoming cities. He explains that the character evolves over time: “Once you transfer to varied cities, you not solely transfer away from folks there but additionally immerse your self in a brand new tradition. You surprise which elements of you stay within the earlier metropolis and which elements you evolve into.”

Look inside

With folks the world over transferring to new locations, and international migration being the order of the day, many personas emerge that displays by Sushisurge encourage us to discover. Whereas the brand new place motivates one to evolve, completely different phases of life play a big half in shaping our persona. “With age, we regularly outgrow a section or trait. We could also be impulsive at a sure age however we study to maneuver on, with out trying again at our older selves with remorse. Possibly we have been kinder and extra curious again then,” he says earlier than he ponders, “Do you wish to reconnect with a persona you left previously or are you cheerful to have moved on from then?”

Artistic course of

With acrylic paints and charcoal on canvas as core mediums, the artist creates distinctive hand-painted canvases. He begins by sketching figurative varieties on a canvas after which reduces as a lot as he can from the determine, asking questions like “How a lot can I take away from the face for it to nonetheless resemble face’ or ‘Do I would like the mouth and nostril’?”. This course of leads him to create summary artwork. As soon as he reaches a simplified kind, even a number of faces appear like a crowd, he makes use of his index finger to use black or white paint.

The artistic course of is difficult and laborious, taking him per week to create smaller canvases (4×4 toes) to generally even a fortnight for larger items (5×4 toes or 5×7 toes). The artwork model is much less forgiving, he says; if his finger slips and he finally ends up making use of extra black color on a white canvas, it’s powerful to simply paint over it and transfer on. More often than not, he has to redo the canvas and begin over again.

Having studied the design, artwork and artwork practices of many artists, he was drawn in the direction of American artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring whose works helped him realise one doesn’t must evoke an emotion by figurative figures, even massive splashes of color can evoke anger, love, and quietness.

Does he plan to maneuver out of Hyderabad too? “I believe I can keep in Hyderabad for some time as a result of I’ve my residence studio to create artworks, and I even have my canine Po” he says with a smile.

Folks Who By no means Have been by Sushisurge is on show at Gallery 78, Izzat Nagar, Shilpa Hills, Hyderabad until November 27.