Sculptor, photographer, painter, pioneer: Artist Vivan Sundaram dies at 79

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Vivan Sundaram, a pioneering multidisciplinary artist who typically used his work, melding sculptures, pictures, movies and work, to replicate modern problems with the day, died right here on Wednesday. He was 79.

“Vivan Sundaram passed away this morning at 9.20 am,” learn a word issued by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), of which Sundaram was a founding trustee.

Social activist and pal Shabnam Hashmi mentioned Sundaram had been ailing for the previous few months with a number of points.

“The last three months he was going in and out of the hospital,” Hashmi informed PTI in regards to the artist and activist.

Sundaram, nephew to the legendary artist Amrita Sher-Gil, is survived by his spouse, artwork historian-critic Geeta Kapur.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Vivan Sundaram, a famend progressive artist and staunch secularist. He stood firmly for the working class and was a vocal critic of the communal forces. Joining the grief of his household, fellow artists and the world of tradition. pic.twitter.com/lziVGDt6gr

— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) March 29, 2023

His final rites shall be carried out at 12 midday at Delhi’s Lodhi Crematorium on Thursday.

Born in Shimla in 1943 to Kalyan Sundaram, former chairman of Law Commission of India, and Indira Sher-Gil, sister of Amrita Sher-Gil, the Delhi-based artist studied portray at Baroda’s MS University and London’s The Slade School of Fine Art within the Sixties.

Sundaram was additionally energetic within the college students’ motion of May 1968 in France.

He later helped arrange a commune in London the place he lived until 1970.

On his return to India in 1971, he labored with artists’ and college students’ teams to organise occasions and protests, particularly through the Emergency years, SAHMAT wrote in a word.

Vivan Sundaram passes away. At Kochi we’re going to sadly miss him. A pal and ardent supporter of @KochiBiennale, his works ‘The heights of Machu Pichu’ are on show within the present version. RIP pic.twitter.com/eyLeKDHXmC

— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) March 29, 2023

“He has had a long-standing identity as an artist-activist engaged with artist groups and collectives, and has used different artistic strategies for collaboration and activism – some of it straightforwardly political/left oriented,” SAHMAT mentioned.

His oeuvre, which moved from portray throughout his school years to partaking with pictures, movies and sculptural set up “has been widely considered crucial in the definition and development of installation as a practice in the country”, Vadehra Art Gallery mentioned.

“The loss of Vivan Sundaram is a loss to not only those who knew and loved him, but also a great loss to the global art community. He was a rare one in his creative and intellectual energy. His politics and activist side was one that we all admired and drew strength from,” Roshini Vadehra, director of Vadehra Art Gallery, informed PTI.

According to SAHMAT, Sundaram made installations since 1990 that embrace sculpture, pictures and video.

Some of those are “Memorial”, an elaborate work made in response to communal violence in Bombay and a monumental site-specific set up now known as “History Project” at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial.

There was additionally persevering with work on his household, together with the set up, “The Sher-Gil Archive”.

Sundaram can also be editor of a two-volume e-book, “Amrita Sher-Gil: a self-portrait in letters & writings”, printed in 2010, and managing trustee, together with his sister Navina Sundaram, of the Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation (SSAF) arrange in 2016.

His works have been exhibited internationally, together with within the biennials of Kochi (2012), Sydney (2008), Seville (2006), Taipei (2006), Sharjah (2005), Shanghai (2004), Havana (1997), Johannesburg (1997) and Kwangju (1997).

His first retrospective, “Step inside and you are no longer a stranger”, which introduced collectively his 50 years of labor and concepts, was held on the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi in 2018. Many within the artwork world and outdoors it mourned Sundaram’s demise.

Kiran Nadar, artwork collector and founding father of KNMA, remembered him as any person who “bravely handled himself” throughout the previous couple of months of struggling.

RIP.#VivanSundaram pic.twitter.com/suLsnuTWiy

— Irfan (@irfaniyat) March 29, 2023

“In a sense I believe he is in a happier place. I think he suffered a lot in the last one month and very bravely handled himself. I feel at a loss for words, he was somebody I really deeply admired. My heartfelt condolences to Geeta, who is completely shattered at this stage. May god give her strength to bear this loss,” Nadar informed PTI.

Sitaram Yechury, common secretary of CPI(M) and pal of Sundaram, wrote on Twitter that his “endearing gentle presence will be missed”.

“Deeply grieved at the passing away of Vivan Sundaram, one of India’s foremost creative artistic personalities. A dear friend whose life & work never lost focus in championing people’s causes,” he mentioned.

Civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad additionally took to the social media platform to mourn “a guiding star and a friend”. “Adios friend inspiration guide and so much more! SAHMAT has lost a guiding star and me a dear dear friend! Partner wife dearest friend Geeta Kapoor tightest hugs! Vivan Vivan Vivan. Vivan Sundaram the artist fighter friend! Create tremors wherever you are!” Setalvad mentioned.

Deeply grieved on the passing away of Vivan Sundaram, considered one of India’s foremost inventive inventive personalities.
A pricey pal whose life & work by no means misplaced focus in championing individuals’s causes.
His endearing mild presence shall be missed. pic.twitter.com/HsCG73sUir

— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) March 29, 2023

Historian S Irfan Habib remembered Sundaram as “one of the most productive and creative artists”.

“Very sad to hear about Vivan Sundaram’s demise. Someone who could make a strong statement through his work of art. He spent decades in taking his art across the world,” Habib wrote on Twitter.

Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, mentioned the “deep legacy he leaves behind will continue to transform & inspire”.

Adious pal inspiration information and a lot extra! SAHMAT has misplaced a guiding star and me a pricey expensive pal! Partner spouse dearest pal Geeta Kapoor tightest hugs! Vivan Vivan Vivan.. Vivan Sundaram the artist fighter pal! Create tremors wherever you’re! pic.twitter.com/KtCztON1Vp

— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) March 29, 2023

NEW DELHI: Vivan Sundaram, a pioneering multidisciplinary artist who typically used his work, melding sculptures, pictures, movies and work, to replicate modern problems with the day, died right here on Wednesday. He was 79.

“Vivan Sundaram passed away this morning at 9.20 am,” learn a word issued by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), of which Sundaram was a founding trustee.

Social activist and pal Shabnam Hashmi mentioned Sundaram had been ailing for the previous few months with a number of points.googletag.cmd.push(operate() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); );

“The last three months he was going in and out of the hospital,” Hashmi informed PTI in regards to the artist and activist.

Sundaram, nephew to the legendary artist Amrita Sher-Gil, is survived by his spouse, artwork historian-critic Geeta Kapur.

Deeply saddened by the passing of Vivan Sundaram, a famend progressive artist and staunch secularist. He stood firmly for the working class and was a vocal critic of the communal forces. Joining the grief of his household, fellow artists and the world of tradition. pic.twitter.com/lziVGDt6gr— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) March 29, 2023 His final rites shall be carried out at 12 midday at Delhi’s Lodhi Crematorium on Thursday.

Born in Shimla in 1943 to Kalyan Sundaram, former chairman of Law Commission of India, and Indira Sher-Gil, sister of Amrita Sher-Gil, the Delhi-based artist studied portray at Baroda’s MS University and London’s The Slade School of Fine Art within the Sixties.

Sundaram was additionally energetic within the college students’ motion of May 1968 in France.

He later helped arrange a commune in London the place he lived until 1970.

On his return to India in 1971, he labored with artists’ and college students’ teams to organise occasions and protests, particularly through the Emergency years, SAHMAT wrote in a word.

Vivan Sundaram passes away. At Kochi we’re going to sadly miss him. A pal and ardent supporter of @KochiBiennale, his works ‘The heights of Machu Pichu’ are on show within the present version. RIP pic.twitter.com/eyLeKDHXmC— N.S. Madhavan (@NSMlive) March 29, 2023 “He has had a long-standing identity as an artist-activist engaged with artist groups and collectives, and has used different artistic strategies for collaboration and activism – some of it straightforwardly political/left oriented,” SAHMAT mentioned.

His oeuvre, which moved from portray throughout his school years to partaking with pictures, movies and sculptural set up “has been widely considered crucial in the definition and development of installation as a practice in the country”, Vadehra Art Gallery mentioned.

“The loss of Vivan Sundaram is a loss to not only those who knew and loved him, but also a great loss to the global art community. He was a rare one in his creative and intellectual energy. His politics and activist side was one that we all admired and drew strength from,” Roshini Vadehra, director of Vadehra Art Gallery, informed PTI.

According to SAHMAT, Sundaram made installations since 1990 that embrace sculpture, pictures and video.

Some of those are “Memorial”, an elaborate work made in response to communal violence in Bombay and a monumental site-specific set up now known as “History Project” at Kolkata’s Victoria Memorial.

There was additionally persevering with work on his household, together with the set up, “The Sher-Gil Archive”.

Sundaram can also be editor of a two-volume e-book, “Amrita Sher-Gil: a self-portrait in letters & writings”, printed in 2010, and managing trustee, together with his sister Navina Sundaram, of the Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation (SSAF) arrange in 2016.

His works have been exhibited internationally, together with within the biennials of Kochi (2012), Sydney (2008), Seville (2006), Taipei (2006), Sharjah (2005), Shanghai (2004), Havana (1997), Johannesburg (1997) and Kwangju (1997).

His first retrospective, “Step inside and you are no longer a stranger”, which introduced collectively his 50 years of labor and concepts, was held on the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi in 2018. Many within the artwork world and outdoors it mourned Sundaram’s demise.

Kiran Nadar, artwork collector and founding father of KNMA, remembered him as any person who “bravely handled himself” throughout the previous couple of months of struggling.

RIP.#VivanSundaram pic.twitter.com/suLsnuTWiy— Irfan (@irfaniyat) March 29, 2023 “In a sense I believe he is in a happier place. I think he suffered a lot in the last one month and very bravely handled himself. I feel at a loss for words, he was somebody I really deeply admired. My heartfelt condolences to Geeta, who is completely shattered at this stage. May god give her strength to bear this loss,” Nadar informed PTI.

Sitaram Yechury, common secretary of CPI(M) and pal of Sundaram, wrote on Twitter that his “endearing gentle presence will be missed”.

“Deeply grieved at the passing away of Vivan Sundaram, one of India’s foremost creative artistic personalities. A dear friend whose life & work never lost focus in championing people’s causes,” he mentioned.

Civil rights activist Teesta Setalvad additionally took to the social media platform to mourn “a guiding star and a friend”. “Adios friend inspiration guide and so much more! SAHMAT has lost a guiding star and me a dear dear friend! Partner wife dearest friend Geeta Kapoor tightest hugs! Vivan Vivan Vivan. Vivan Sundaram the artist fighter friend! Create tremors wherever you are!” Setalvad mentioned.

Deeply grieved on the passing away of Vivan Sundaram, considered one of India’s foremost inventive inventive personalities.A pricey pal whose life & work by no means misplaced focus in championing individuals’s causes.His endearing mild presence shall be missed. pic.twitter.com/HsCG73sUir— Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) March 29, 2023 Historian S Irfan Habib remembered Sundaram as “one of the most productive and creative artists”.

“Very sad to hear about Vivan Sundaram’s demise. Someone who could make a strong statement through his work of art. He spent decades in taking his art across the world,” Habib wrote on Twitter.

Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi, mentioned the “deep legacy he leaves behind will continue to transform & inspire”.

Adious pal inspiration information and a lot extra! SAHMAT has misplaced a guiding star and me a pricey expensive pal! Partner spouse dearest pal Geeta Kapoor tightest hugs! Vivan Vivan Vivan.. Vivan Sundaram the artist fighter pal! Create tremors wherever you’re! pic.twitter.com/KtCztON1Vp— Teesta Setalvad (@TeestaSetalvad) March 29, 2023