Thota Vaikuntam at Art Alive Gallery

Art Alive Gallery is back with another show, ‘Thota Vaikuntam: Redefining the Cultural Gaze,’ a solo show of the legendary master artist. This exhibition re-looks at Vaikuntam’s journey from humble beginnings in a small Andhra village to becoming one of India’s most prominent artists. The show exaggerates the five decades of his artistic journey, showcasing pieces from the 1980s to 2024, rooted in Indian aesthetics. They also examine Telangana’s culture through theatrically posed through large iconic forms.

The show starts with a preview on Thursday, 17^th October, 2024. Thota Vaikuntam’s recent publication and a documentary film on the artist will be released at the preview. You can catch Vaikuntam from 17 to 20 October 2024. The show will be on view till 20th November 2024. 

Born in Burugupalli, Thota Vaikuntam began working with charcoal and conte on paper before transitioning to vibrant acrylics on canvas. Positioned in the postcolonial context, Vaikuntam turned away from the grand narratives of earlier modernism, instead finding his voice in a vivid portrayal of his local reality. His work, deeply rooted in the rustic life of his native Telangana, embodies a dynamic modernism which is deeply personal yet connected to the broader currents of global art history.

Thota Vaikuntam draws on a myriad of formal influences revealing a multifaceted artistic practice that is uniquely ingrained in Indian aesthetics yet universally resonant. Through his bold and evocative depictions of rural life, Vaikuntam not only honours the resilience of his community but also contributes to a broader understanding of modernism as a dynamic and pluralistic force. ‘Redefining the Cultural Gaze’ looks into the archiving of Thota Vaikuntam’s work that probes into this creative journey.

Senior art historian, critic, author and curator,  Ashrafi S. Bhagat writes, “Vaikuntam’s journey has been arduous in the realization of his visual language and engagement with appropriate vocabulary. It was a struggle which found materialization in his culture of the village of  Boorugupalli. His works span more than four decades establishing one important criterion of artistic praxis, namely premising on his empirical experiences and sensitive awareness of life and environment, providing almost documentary evidence of the people of his village, particularly the women. His experiences served as a dialectic process moving between doing and reflecting, making and thinking. It is these dimensions which led to the redefining of cultural gaze according  to his sensitivity and sensibility.”

She adds, “The richness of traditional life and culture is at the heart of his works. The subject is centred on men, women, children and birds, relating with ease to the ubiquitous dusky village belles. Stylistically his imagery is inspired from folk culture, with its naive simplicity, raw vigour and forthrightness. Their local sartorial attire of the sari bears affinity to the Maharashtrian method of draping and their cholis’ designed with meticulous dots, represent in his art a natural intersection of aesthetic sensibilities and cultural values. Drawing, for Vaikuntam, is the very essence of his artistic being. The element of line served as the chief protagonist, which for Vaikuntam became the ‘line’, ‘framework of lines’, and ‘network of lines’, manifesting as primary forms. Each successive line in his drawings and sketches carried its moment in time.”

Vaikuntam dominantly establishes regional modernity through threads of tradition derived from both folk art as well as European modernism, woven cleverly to create a rich decorative colourful tapestry of men and women establishing the saliency of his rural context. Vaikuntam’s works are a visual delight, attracting the viewer to the depthless depths of his paintings. 

Sunaina Anand, Founder-Director of the Gallery expresses her pleasure, “This exhibition is a testament to the creative vision of Thota Vaikuntam which relooks at his journey as an artist comprising of works over five decades accompanied by an extensively researched book and a film on him. We have been  conceptualizing this show for a long time and we hope that the viewers will cherish  immersing themselves in Vaikuntam ji’s artistic world.” 

About Art Alive Gallery 

Founded in 2001, Art Alive Gallery is a contemporary art gallery based in New Delhi. The gallery has been committed to creating a culture of engagement between art connoisseurs, art enthusiasts and artists. It has organised shows of Indian art in London, Chicago, Palo Alto,  Seoul, Dubai, Sydney, Singapore and Abu Dhabi. The gallery presents a holistic showcase of contemporary, modern and emerging art from the country through its curated exhibitions, artist talks, and retrospectives.

Art Alive Gallery has also ventured into publications; documenting and archiving contemporary Indian art, publishing a range of books and catalogues. The gallery aspires to build aesthetically active visual experiences, promote emerging perspectives and assist the growth of Indian art globally. 

Image Courtesy – Art Alive Gallery

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