Krishnaraj Chonat | Research Residency
Switzerland | Visual Arts
30 October - 26 November 2017 — Visual Arts
Krishnaraj Chonat is a Bangalore based artist working in sculpture, sainting, public art installations and various other media. Through intense research and a strong ecological consciousness that pervades most of his recent projects, Krishnaraj explores many facets of our modern existence analysing geographical and environmental change brought about by an unprecedented interest in the ‘tourist landscape’. He has been part of several high profile international art exhibitions and has realized challenging projects with public participation like “My hands smell of you”, at Centre Pompidou, Paris and 48* Celsius in New Delhi. Employing a wide range of artistic strategies and combining materials like electronic waste, Sandal oil, soap, fake fur, etc… he inserts mnemonic devices in the audiences, with a call to sync our personal ecologies with the greater and to help re-connect with own experiences in meaningful and also aromatic ways.
Having been part of many artist residencies around the world, his travels and documentations have become a repository that he frequently draws upon for his work. He often presents multiple perspectives on a single issue/subject that alludes to the layers of complexity one confronts in engaging with burning issues of our time.
Some significant projects include: Mattress Factory, Pittsburg; Centre Pompidou,Paris, 2011. Mori Art museum, Tokyo; essl Museum, Vienna; etc.