Sakshi Gallery presents “.....and for those who do not sing the national anthem in their mother tongue.”, an exhibition of recent works by acclaimed photographer Vivek Vilasini.

Vivek Vilasini's works are a curious mix of reality and irony as they bring together quotidian elements from different contexts in a quirky, playful manner. It is through this juxtaposition and its absurdity that Vilasini seeks to understand the construction of identity and alludes to themes of gender, consumerism and hierarchy. These universal preoccupations find a vernacular interpretation in his works, lending them a sense of immediacy and resonance.

Vilasini's striking reconstructions of the ordinary are always elaborately scripted and staged, and are reminiscent of cinematic productions in their making. They examine the ever-evolving structures of our society, and in doing so, reveal larger realities while throwing open new ways of seeing.

About the artist:

Vivek Vilasini is considered to be one of the important artists of his generation, having been invited to participate in numerous prestigious shows such as 'India: Lado a Lado / Arte Contemporânea Indiana,' which travelled to Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, in Brazil; 'Crossroads: India Escalate,' at the 5th Prague Biennale, in Czech Republic and 'On the Road to the Next Milestone,' part of the exhibition 'Indian Highway,' at Herning Museum of Contemporary Art, Denmark. His work was also included in the inaugural KochiMuziris Biennale.

Vilasini was born in 1964, in Trishur, Kerala and trained as a Marine Radio Officer at the All India Marine College in Kochi. He obtained a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Kerala University in 1987 before turning to art and studying sculpture from traditional Indian craftspeople. He has since then had several solo exhibitions across the country and his work is part of important collections the world over. He lives and works in Bangalore.

Image: © Vivek Vilasini
Study for Gulabi
2013
Archival print on archival hahnemuhle
57 x 84in