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Siji Krishnan
Siji Krishnan |
Siji Krishnan’s works are deeply inward looking. Unlike the women artists who mostly deal with the public-private interfaces in their works politically, Siji takes ideas and images from her simple life, which has been hampered by so many tragedies during her growing years. Born in 1983, Mavelikkara, Kerala, Siji had her formal education in art from Mavelikkara Fine Arts College and Hyderabad Central University, from where she took MFA in Painting. The relationship between father and daughter seems to be one of the haunting themes of Siji’s works. The expressionist quality adds to the flavor to her portraitures. These simple but inviting paintings have stronger narratives embedded in them. Siji works from Kerala and has participated in a few groups shows.
When and where Siji realized her artistic calling?
“I was born in Mavelikkara and my father once was an art student though he could not complete his education in the fine arts college. In the childhood itself I started drawing and my father encouraged me to continue with it. After my schooling I joined Mavelikkara Fine Arts College, Alappuzha district, Kerala. I knew that I would be pursuing art education even when I was in school.”
How did she see her BFA studies?
“My knowledge about art history was limited but I tried to read and see as much as I could from the college library. Teachers like Shijo Jacob and Unnikrishnan encouraged me to do paintings as well as to make further readings in art history. However, my works were mostly class based and academic. I was not mentally involved at that time. Looking back I feel that I did most of the works as a part of the practice not giving much importance to theme or style. But unconsciously I was imbibing quite a lot of things from the surroundings.”
What made changes in her life?
“I went to do MFA when my family was going through a big crisis. First I got admission in Santiniketan and then in Hyderabad Central University. Thanks to financial problems at home I opted for Hyderabad. My father used to work in a bank and somebody cheated him of funds. This put his job in jeopardy. He withdrew to a private world. This pained me. For the first time I started looking my life in a different way. Living in a place away from my family was really difficult and I started concentrating my works. I started seeing my works evolving in a different way. My works became more and more autobiographical.”
How did she explain her works?
“As I said, my works are autobiographical and intensely talk about personal relationship. Once I was traveling in a train and was doing some sketches directly from life. I found one of them having a strange accent on gay relationship. I remembered the works of Bhupen Khakkar and later I developed the same drawing into a painting. Also I painted a girl child suckling at her father’s nipples. There is a gender reversal in it. I am not political but my themes deal a lot with the gender politics seen from a domestic perspective. I repeatedly paint a girl who is caught in certain situations, alone and brooding. I like that girl in my works and I feel that she is my own reflected self. I observe things around and try to portray them in peculiar situations.”
Art History?
“In Hyderabad, I got to know more about art history. Senior sculptor Alex Mathew advised me to do more readings. He was a great help. Though I am fairly aware of the contemporary art practices, I feel that I am basically a painter and I enjoy doing paintings.”
Future plans?
“I am working towards a few group shows in Kerala and outside. Also I am concentrating on a solo show, which I would like to do in Mumabi or Delhi. I feel like leaving Kerala for a while and settle elsewhere so that I could see more life of our country.”
Market?
“My works are collected by a few artists like Bose Krishnamachari and Laxma Gowd. Also I am promoted by Dilip Naryanan of OED galleries.”
Where shall we see Siji in the coming years?
“I would like to continue painting. I don’t want to do any other work for making money. Art seems to my calling and life.” |
