The Shape Things Will Take

This monsoon, Gallery Espace, in association with LG OLED is pleased to present a two artist show, featuring the artworks of multi – disciplinary artists -Valsan Koorma Kolleri and Puneet Kaushik. “The Shape Things Will Take” will run from 22nd August to 20 September 2014, with an opening reception at the gallery from 7:00 pm to 10.30 pm.

Curated by Prima Kurien, the exhibition is a discourse between two artists spanning two different generations, and their unique way of engaging with space and material, unbound by conventional art practice or the preconceived language of academic expression. These artists have forged ahead to carve out their own artistic vocabulary and practice, which allows for emotionality and spontaneity and throbs with raw vitality. Whether these artists sculpt, draw, weave or paint, it is the compulsion of what they want to express that determines the material, medium or scale of their work. The medium becomes them and they become the medium .The transition from the two dimensional to multi dimensional is effortless and the separation ceases to exist - and the question as to, whether they are sculpting , drawing , weaving or just breathing becomes superfluous. While Valsan is already on his journey and has found his language, Puneet is just beginning to come into his own. (excerpts taken from the curatorial note by Prima Kurien)

Valsan Koorma Kolleri was born in Pattiam, Malabar in 1953. He has a Bachelor’s from the College of Art & Crafts, Madras, and a Masters from MS University, Baroda, where he was also a faculty member in the Fine Arts Department. He also studied at the Ecole Nationale Superior des Beaux Arts, Paris. Kolleri has participated in solo and group shows and lectured throughout India, Europe and the United States. His awards include the National Academy Award (Lalit Kala Akademy, New Delhi, 1990), and the Sixth Bharat Bhavan Biennale of Indian Contemporary Art Grand Prize (1996). In 2004 his exhibition Retrospective as Artwork was curated by Grant Watson at The Project, Dublin, Ireland.

The artist lives and works between two cities namely Vadodara and Kerala.

Puneet Kaushik who graduated in applied art, studied Studio Art from the University of California, Berkeley, has conducted a wide variety of art workshops in India, Paris, California, Singapore, Dubai, Japan and the most recent one being at Stuttgart, Germany.

The artist lives and works in New Delhi.