Dark Terrain: A dive into Ratheesh T’s rich world

Tsuktiben Jamir

Ratheesh T is a contemporary Indian artist born in 1980 at Kilimanoor and lives in Trivandrum, Kerala. He majorly concerns himself with painting and his works draw inspiration from the people and scenery of his native state, and depict existing landscapes that are rife with story potential. He is hosting his recent show titled ‘Dark Terrain’ at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, a Mumbai-based gallery that was established in 2006 and focuses on the medium of painting. ‘Dark Terrain’ will be on display till the 20^th of May 2023.

Regarding his latest show, a press release states, “With Dark Terrain, Trivandrum-based painter Ratheesh T. turns to his lived experience of societal inequities in his home state of Kerala. While the artist’s early paintings designed tightly layered universes populated with complex mythologies, in recent years his figural works have moved towards portraiture, pointedly addressing the agonizing prejudices he, his family, and so many others continue to quietly bear, largely due to their darker skin and caste. Having gradually adopted a looser approach to painting that emphasizes the emotional weight and tensions of his embodied realities, Ratheesh continues to integrate naturalism with mythological elements, for instance transforming himself into a winged figure in several compositions. While Ratheesh’s reflections shadow broader discourses, the artist is clear that his gaze is specific and local, seen through personal portrayals that necessarily eclipse global and colonial frameworks.”

He has incorporated his experience growing up dark-skinned and being made fun of it in his paintings; in a way, some of his works are autobiographical. Ratheesh claims that instead of narrating grand tales or conjuring up visions, he focuses on documenting the events that are taking place in the present in his modest existence. Each painting is brimming with expressive variety and narrative potential; each hides a secret and tells a tale.

Ratheesh T. received a BFA in 2004 after completing his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts in Trivandrum. He was also awarded a Royal Overseas League Scholarship that same year to visit the UK. The universal themes and emotions in Ratheesh’s paintings have attracted a wide international following. Not just in India but also in Britain, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands, his art has been displayed in exhibits. Ratheesh asserts in an interview; “I paint from life but my work references visceral universal experiences. People, whether in Mumbai or Berlin, have really connected with some of my paintings — like Kiss, an image of the unconditional affection between father and daughter, and Amma, which shows my mother putting rice in my plate. That feeling of love is the same all over the world.”

Ratheesh T. often depicts common people acting out situations of daily life against backdrops of lush, brilliant tropical forests typical of the Kerala region. He adds to the interview, “I enjoy living in the city but prefer the people and landscapes of my native village. So I divide my time between two places — my studio in Trivandrum and the old family house in Kilimanoor where I grew up.”

Dates:

23^rd March 2023 – 20^th May 2023

Tuesdays to Saturdays

11 am to 7 pm