Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 6
The works of this young artist from Eastern Nagaland has digitally entered the hallowed portals of Tate Modern, London, and also featured at the International exhibition “Translation”, by Emergent Art Space, San Francisco.
In June this year, Throngkiuba Yimchungru’s art piece ‘Unobtrusive Ecology’ (2.5x8.8 ft) was digitally exhibited at the opening of the new Tate Modern in the Turbine Hall, London, which was an open call on the theme “What is the future of art?” Alongside the digital exhibition, the works of British modern artist David Hockney and Georgia O’Keeffe, the ‘Mother of American modernism’, were exhibited as well.
On the theme (art description) of ‘Unobtrusive Ecology’, Throngkiuba said, “Nuclear energy is fast becoming a symbol of progress and modernity... For developed countries nuclear energy enables a false sense of progress through its promise of cheap but unstable energy and through its military capability of catapulting a country to international political superiority. These countries maintain the hegemony of power and suppress other nations from similar ambitions.”
“Turning a blind eye, they nevertheless export uranium (yellow-cake) from developing countries creating a dependency and propagating a new form of economical colonization. Politics is straight-forward, as is my piece, and yet the loser in this game of trade and tyranny is our environment, represented by the blue skyline and green nature; as unobtrusive as our attitude to ecology continues to be”, he added.
Twenty-five-year-old Athrong (as called by his friends and family) who won the ‘Best Mixed Media on Canvas’ at the All India Art Contest, Mumbai, in 2014, also created another ripple in the art circle with his video art titled ‘Biggest misconceptions’.
The video depicting the crisis in Syria was critically acclaimed at the International exhibition (travelling show) “Translation”, by Emergent Art Space, held at ICCR, Kolkata, in last part of February this year and also at the annual show of the 47th Birla Art and Culture Gallery, Kolkata in January 2016.
“Several local artists impressed the viewer as well. Like Sumantra Sardar and Jayeti Bhattacharya, who negotiate sensitively between psychological and physical space. Or Sumit Sadhukhan, Gaurab Dhara and Subhamay Dutta, who aren’t confined to the theme but evoke your interest nonetheless. But it is Throngkiuba Yimchungru’s video that captures the contemporary pulse: of indignant, irrepressible rebellion”, wrote art critic Rita Datta in her review (The Telegraph, March 16, 2016) of the show.
Athrong who is pursuing his Master of Fine Art at ‘Kala Bhavan’ Shankineketan, is currently working on the subject ecology.
Athrong told The Morung Express that his works are fundamentally tied to the studio environment itself where he produces them. His working materials are putty, CaCo3, emulsion primer, adhesive, stainer, enamel oil and iron soldering on canvas, which are primary materials for building houses.
He disclosed that Emergent Art Space has also agreed to publish his series of works online on the theme Ecology in December this year. He was also recently declared ‘showcase winner’ (Worldwide) of the 7th ArtSlant, a US based organization.
“I don’t paint a picture. I try to paint the reality of the world which humans have been destroying in an unprecedented assault while remaining unobtrusive. Likewise I do the same with my artworks, rendering sky, water, trees, land, etc. from multiple layers of wall putty, CaCO3, emulsion primer, adhesive, stainer, and enamel oil which are primarily materials used to build houses--connecting urbanization with chaos. Then, in emulation of environmental devastation, I burn (like the burning of forests) and rework the surface with iron soldering, tearing away at the material with a chisel like the giant Krupp machines mining the earth. Unfortunately, humans have to refund nature on a monumental scale,” the artist reflected.
