Jagannath Panda’s new paintings and and sculptures

A solo of by Jagannath Panda’s new paintings, works on paper and sculptures – entitled ‘Metropolis of Mirage’ took place at Nature Morte, New Delhi. His works revolve around his captivating characteristic collage technique.

The surface of the canvas/ sculpture in it is projected with the addition of brocade fabrics, finely blended to create the feathers of birds and skins of beasts, in order to mimic foliage or approximate man-made surfaces.

This hybridized surface treatment essentially corresponds with many of his favorite themes that concentrate on moments, locations and icons, which are constantly in a state of flux, caught between extremes, being reconciled only with a sense of confusion and anxiety. His depiction of the burgeoning city of Gurgaon (where he is currently based) reflect the intensity of tensions visible, as rampant development and urbanization endangers natural habitats.

Jagannath Panda was born in Bhubaneswar in 1970 and received his BFA in sculpture from the BK College of Art & Crafts, Bhubaneswar in 1991 and his MFA in sculpture from the MS University, Baroda in 1994. Subsequent studies took him to the Fukuoka University in Japan (1997) and the Royal College of Art in London, where he received an MA degree in sculpture in 2002.

Solo exhibitions of his work have been held at Nature Morte in New Delhi (2009, 2005, 2000); the Chemould Gallery in Mumbai (2007, 2000); and the Alexia Goethe Gallery in London (2009).

He has been included in a wide number of important group shows including ‘Indian Highway IV’ at the Lyons Museum of Contemporary Art, France; ‘Indian Highway V’ at the MAXXI Museum in Rome (upcoming); ‘Transformation’ at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo; ‘ Chalo! India’ at the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo; ‘Where in the World’, the Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon; and ‘Midnight’s Children’, Studio la Citta, Verona, Italy (among many others).

(Information courtesy: Nature Morte, Delhi)