Friday, September 05, 2008

Completion of Lecture Component of Series at Fine Arts College

Rajan M. Krishnan with microphoneThe Beauty of Water lectures at Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikara has finished. Our final day earlier this month featured artist Rajan M. Krishnan, who shared stories of his development as an artist and images mainly from his recent show, Revisit, at OED. Readers may recall other entries posted here about Rajan and his art. Rajan is shown above between artist/lecturer A.P. Sunil, who helped with this series, and Renu Ramanath, author of Space Out, an excellent resource for keeping up with art happenings in Kerala.

Saratchandran with student SudheeshIn late August we had the fortune of hearing from C. Saratchandran, co-director (with P Baburaj) of the powerful film 1000 Days and a Dream which we screened during his visit. This excellent film documents the successful struggle in Plachimada against Coca Cola. Saratchandran is shown here encouraging student filmmaker Sudheesh, whose impressive film "Next," which comments on global climate change, we also screened.

Dr. PS HarikumarEarlier in August we featured Dr. PS Harikumar of the Centre for Water Resources Management and Kunnamangalam, Kerala's water museum. Dr. Harikumar spoke to students about water in Kerala and around the planet. Students were initially puzzled as to the inclusion of a scientific angle within a fine arts college program. The collaborating leaders had agreed to do this as a way to provide multiple perspectives. Students began to put the larger picture together later in the series.

Latha Kurien RajeevLatha Kurien Rajeev led the lecture series in July with an engaging lecture on conceptual art, eco-art, body-art, and other contemporary movements, including social sculpture and the contributions of Joseph Beuys. Latha introduced the works of Ned Kahn, whose water sculptures were of particular interest. Students participated in a drawing activity, sketching plans for a Kahn-inspired sculpture. You can see from the picture below Latha's engaging way with students!

At Latha's LectureStudents are now on break for Kerala's Onam Holiday, with assignments of journal writing and preparing for a workshop we intend to hold at a water body in the backwaters area north of the school. At this intensive we will produce several collaborative pieces, some of which may be more permanent than those made spontaneously at our enjoyable, educational trip to Lake Sasthamkotta, featured in the entry below. The lower left corner of the photo here shows art history lecturer Preeti Joseph, in pink shall, next to artist/lecturer Shijo Jacob, both of whom helped lead the series.

Thanks to all these folks, as well as to college principal N.N.Rimzon, and V.Sasikumar, who took many of these photos and who supported the series behind the scenes in many ways.

Beauty of Water Website