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Born
1970 in Karnataka, Iranna obtained B.F.A. from the college of Visual Arts in
Gulbarga in 1992 and M.F.A. from Delhi College of Art in 1994.Iranna is
recipient of National Academy award in 1997, the M.F.Hussain and Ram Kumar
award, Lalit Kala Academy Award and the AIFACS award. He was a
recipient of Charles Wallace Scholarship; between 1999 and 2000 and studied
at Wimbledon School of Art, London. Iranna has had solo exhibitions at
The Guild art gallery, Mumbai, Espace art gallery, Delhi, British Council
gallery. Has also exhibited in Hongkong, London, Cairo and Amsterdam among
others. Iranna’s works are in many important collections including NGMA,
Delhi and Chester & Davida Herwitz collection. His paintings consist of
nude figures: abstract in language they are of a philosophical reflection,
revolving around the interest in exploring the interactions of the inner of
man world with the existential issues of today.
G
R Iranna is an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of time and
space. Born in 1970, it’s been barely ten years since he started painting
professionally, and already his work is mature and profound. Many of
Iranna's paintings depict pain as an abstract force that is translated
visually in bruised textures and razor sharp cutting edges. His painting has
always been far removed from an overriding, postmodern logic. Instead,
Iranna uses the idealistic, representative and modernist language of Indian
contemporary art. His most recent works are all visions of resistance. In
just a glance, one can tell a sense of massive dynamic energy that pervades
the surfaces. An energy that is fueled by torment and the struggle against
it. Upon further inspection, one sees that these conflicts being played out
on the surface are present also in those between one colour and another,
between figure and hue, and between the crudeness and the expertise
employed. These works, set on canvas as well as tarpaulin, are symbolic of
an important change in Iranna's work. Maybe symbolic even of an attempt to
break free from an establishment, or a style that is beginning to become
claustrophobic. The large, fundamental figure that used to appear in
Iranna's early paintings emerges only twice in this later series, and though
the artist continues to employ repeated motifs in his work, they seem now to
be less figurative, leaning more towards form.
These
pieces seem to have an almost romantic undertone: the result of Iranna's
attempt to break away from his own mould and reform his work. They cater to
contemporary expectations, and reflect his need to pander many contradictory
demands. Those of society as well as those of the artist himself.
G.R
Iranna has been nominated from India for the ABPF Signature Art Prize 08 by
Professor Rajeev Lochan, director of National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai.
The works selected for this prize is titled ‘Wounded tools’
is the
artists commentary on human civilizational growth and its intrinsic follies.
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