An artist who looks to grasp complexity of contemporary issues

Sheela Gowda's visual idiom tries to grasp the complexity of the contemporary issues, including violence and suppression, as she works toward layers of meaning even while striving to trim the form to the extent possible, so as the reference or the source is discreetly suggested; not stated literally.

Her ‘Collateral, a sculpture of ash, made through rolling, arranging and burning of incense on mesh frames to create intricate patterns, had fragmented appearance that suggested a broken landscape ravaged by war.

On the other hand, ‘Darkroom’ emerged as a standout moment in the Indian art survey courtesy Serpentine, as she transformed oil drums salvaged from laborers into a low dark hut that resembled their makeshift homes. After stepping inside, the apparently infinite space with tiny pinpricks, transformed its ceiling into a starry sky.

The artist's most recent solo, entitled ‘Therein and Besides’ at Iniva, marked her debut in the UK. For the sizzling showcase, she again explored a new set of materials like tar drums and blue plastic tarpaulins to unfold a narrative on miseries of the working class.

Her ‘of all people’, made up of countless wooden chips, roughly carved into votive objects by craftsmen, formed part of peculiarly painted composition of larger frames and doors, also revealing the marks of weathering and insects’ infestation. Moving through this eerie environment, one was invited to recalibrate the ensuing experience from different heights and perspectives.

Elaborating on her style, The Guardian art write mentioned: “As well as using incense, she turned old bits of house timber into battered versions of abstract sculpture and fashioned ropes of human hair into looping drawings. Cow dung, thread and spice were all been transfigured in her intriguing installations, subtly bringing to light the lives of those on the economic margins. Though a city girl, her interest in the rural traditions of India can be traced back to her father, who was a well-respected of Indian folk music and artifact archivist.”