Acrylic on canvas with 24 carat gold and silver leaf, insightful murals, sculpture in bronze, fibre and wood, installations in steel and fibreglass, and experimental performances — these are some of what fall under seasoned contemporary artiste Seema Kohli’s repertoire. But what brings the Delhi-based artiste to Bengaluru is In Silence the Secret Speaks, an intriguing narrative performance, where Kohli dons the hat of a poetess – staging poetry that have been inspired out of her own works. In a candid chat with Bengaluru Chronicle, Seema shares the inside track with us...
“The works are bits and pieces of 30 of my most intimate works, compiled over a period of time. The poetry is very contextual, with underlying themes of procreative, rejuvenation and positive recycling,” begins the artist. With over 30 solo shows, and showcases at international art exhibits; Seema Kohli’s expansive portfolio is reflective of how she has become well-versed with the palette. “Over the years, I’ve become multi-disciplinary. As a creative person, your dimension changes. There needs to be versatility. A lot of my artworks on canvas have taken the shape of sculptures, installations, performances and now it’s going to be converted into words. Simply put, this is going to be narrative in images,” states Seema. The 40-minute performance, rendered in English, will bring forth a synergy of her artworks and perceptions. The performance, which is a poetic narration of eternal existence, expressed through myriad motifs of the poet by the artiste, lays down the bricks to the mystical nature of the real and surreal. “I have written this as an insight while doing a 10x24ft painting In Silence the Secret Speaks. At the core of the narrative performance is the symbolism of constant creation, evolution and destruction, represented by the act of weaving cloth; the sound of the loom, a rhythm of life itself. The theme of the piece brings together influences of ancient and modern Indian traditions and my own spiritual quest in the expressions of art,” she reiterates. A showcase of her digital artworks will be exhibited alongside the performance.
While it’s her second showcase of this show ( the first one was held in Chennai) it’s the audience’s innate receptiveness of Bengaluru that wins her over. “I’ve always enjoyed my stay in Bengaluru. I’ve observed, they are extremely reciprocative. That gives any artiste for that matter, a high. I think it’s important for audiences to interact with the artiste. And this city gives me due credits that way!” believes Seema. As the excitement mounts, so do the expectations, the artiste signs off saying, “I’m inspired by the belief that in this world, nothing is dead. There’s constant recycling. The inspiration behind it all is from life is general. And the beauty it offers. That aside, history, mythology, people who have broken conventions and surpassed barriers — these intrigue me. I hope the message comes across, and people get the vibe.”
— The artiste will be presenting a narrative on August 13 at National Gallery of Modern Art.
