Dubai: Indian contemporary artist Gigi Scaria was the star of the latest interactive session at Artry Dubai on Friday, where he presented his video project ‘City Unclaimed.’
The installation, which included a large photo-based mural of an imaginary New Delhi cityscape, and a 12-foot-high water fountain, is Scaria’s dialogue about architectural spaces, class and social disparities, and scarce resources in urban settings.
Among the distinguished guests present were T.P. Seetharam, Indian Ambassador, and Khalil Abdul Wahid, Visual Art Manager at Dubai Culture, and Malini Gulrajani, Founder of 1x1 Art Gallery.
The artist who uses different mediums in his works such as painting, photography, installations, sculptures and video art talked to Gulf News in an exclusive interview about his works and future plans.
“I moved from medium to medium in connection with the concept and ideas I was drawn to,” said Scaria.
e explained that as complex ideas may not be understandable through painting alone as a medium, he uses different mediums to better express specific concepts.
“On a personal level, I do enjoy painting for disciplining the self, and video in connecting and coordinating with ideas put across via various mediums as it integrates the message.”
Based in New Delhi, India for the past nine years, Scaria has participated in numerous art events around the world. His love for art, however, started at childhood.
“Inspiration of becoming an artist unfolds in the fact that how one engages with life and one’s own surroundings,” he said.
Born in India in 1973, Scaria holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, as well as a Master of Arts degree from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi.
He started his career in the mid-1990s, illustrating children’s books and teaching art at an experimental school in New Delhi while establishing himself as a professional artist.
However, Scaria’s works soon received international attention. By 2000, he was offered residency and several major solo opportunities across India, Germany, America, Hungary, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Australia. His works have been a part of Venice, Singapore and Prague Biennales.
Among his diverse styles of art work, Scaria said he has a personal favourite.
“In particular I would mention my work titled ‘Elevator from the sub-continent,’ which was a large-scale interactive sculptural installation exhibited at the India Pavilion in Venice Biennale, 2011,” he said.
Scaria’s next stop will be the upcoming Kochi Muziris Biennale held in Kerala, where he will be participating by presenting a new large sculpture he is currently working on. The event, which had Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014 as its goodwill partner, was sponsored by Homes R Us, a leading home décor concept in the region.
