A recent show at Gallery OED, Kochi made an attempt to collate works by five artists from five distinct generations, and at different phases of their respective career - based on the presence of Mother Earth or her elements as a core concern in their work.

The partcipitating artists, namely Ghulam Mohammed Sheikh, Sudhir Patwardhan, N.N.Rimzon, Rajan Krishnan and Sujith S.N., represented the sociopolitical contexts of their individual times that have left deep marks on their works. A press release elaborated: “Earth or elements of earth have been a principal metaphor or constant presence in the works of many Indian artists. Amidst the divergent paths of search and research happening in art, in terms of language and content that take the artists in various directions, some artists remain integral with their earthy concerns.

Rajan Krishnan, who conceptualized the show, stated: “It explored the presence of Earth or the elements of earth, in various manifestations - a subtle undercurrent or the milieu or the silent source of energy for the participating artists. Ghulam Mohammed Sheik’s works illustrated and reflected the earthy life around him in a poetic and mystic manner.

In Sudhir Patwardhan’s works the presence of earth was in the portrayal of life, springing forth from the earth, in all its earthiness. At the same time, in N.N.Rimzon’s works, earth, at a metaphorical level, has always been the basic milieu around which his concerns were carefully built up.

Rajan Krishnan’s works were essentially a tribute to the earth, to everything that
comes out of the earth, Sujith S. N. explored the marks or remnants of human activity on the face of the earth. A note by Dilip Narayanan stated; “Experts from around the world are predicting that a couple of years from now, all life on Earth could well come to an end. During an interview with Sudhir Patwardhan, the conversation revolved around a number of issues about earth and the civilization. Long discussions with Rajan Krishnan about the concept resulted in his curating the show."