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ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM

Over the decades Alwar Balasubramaniam has had a sustained and ever-deepening relationship with the natural world—not only its landscapes or physical elements, but the forces that surround us.

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
75″ x 122″
TG 4558

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room


The works in Mirror on the ground represent bourgeoning in Bala’s already-fertile career. Since returning to live in the countryside near Tirunelveli in Southern India, his work has grown in an ever deepening and evolving conversation with the environment around him. Nurtured by this relationship and his indefatigable curiosity that has sustained several decades of inquiry, this blooming appears across the varied works of Mirror on the ground, which include painting, sculpture, drawing, in addition to works that blur the distinctions between media. Like the spokes of a wheel, each reaching in its own direction but joined at their center, Bala’s recent works move outward in many directions, even as they testify to a common origin-point.

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room

Lost light | 2022
Iron, terracotta, canvas, wood
76″ x 72″ x 13″
TG 4545

Resuming an inquiry of fire’s aesthetic potentialities from decades earlier in his career, here Bala draws on its association with life’s rituals and fragility.

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
49" x 76"
TG 4560

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room

Untitled | 2022
Earth and oil on canvas
40" x 70" | Framed: 41" x 71"
TG 4559

Painted with pigments derived from the elements of the landscape that they depict, these works move beyond illustrating the environment as conventional landscape paintings do—making it, rather, a substantial actor in their making.

 

Preparing his canvases, like the surface of earth, Bala employs the forces / processes of nature to shape the surface of his works.

ALWAR BALASUBRAMANIAM - Mirror on the ground - Viewing Room - Talwar Gallery Viewing Room

Nathikarai | 2022
Earth on canvas
34″ x 67″ 
TG 4535

Bala’s works challenge viewers to expand their ways of seeing and refocus their habits of attention.

Across the three decades of his career, Bala has become known for his continuous investigation of the material and natural world, along with our capacity to explore, identify and comprehend it. 

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Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
75" x 122″
TG 4558

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
75" x 122″
TG 4558

Inquire
Untitled | 2022
Earth and oil on canvas
40″ x 70″ | Framed: 41" x 71"
TG 4559

Untitled | 2022
Earth and oil on canvas
40″ x 70″ | Framed: 41" x 71"
TG 4559

Inquire
Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
49″ x 76″
TG 4560

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
49″ x 76″
TG 4560

Inquire
Swirl | 2020
Earth, plaster on board
48″ x 96″
TG 4548

Swirl | 2020
Earth, plaster on board
48″ x 96″
TG 4548

Inquire
Drift | 2022
Earth, cast fiberglass, wood
78" x 78" x 2.5"  | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4564

Drift | 2022
Earth, cast fiberglass, wood
78" x 78" x 2.5"  | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4564

Inquire
Nathikarai | 2022
Earth on canvas
34″ x 67″ 
TG 4535

Nathikarai | 2022
Earth on canvas
34″ x 67″ 
TG 4535

Inquire
Lost light | 2022
Iron, terracotta, canvas, wood
76" x 72" x 13"
TG 4545

Lost light | 2022
Iron, terracotta, canvas, wood
76" x 72" x 13"
TG 4545

Inquire
Cloud Stone | 2020
Watercolor on cast fiberglass
32" x 32" x 4.5" | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4553

Cloud Stone | 2020
Watercolor on cast fiberglass
32" x 32" x 4.5" | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4553

Inquire
In the air | 2021
Indigo and earth on canvas 
44" x 44" x 2"
TG 4544

In the air | 2021
Indigo and earth on canvas 
44" x 44" x 2"
TG 4544

Inquire
Blown Away | 2021
Sandstone
In 9 parts: 18” x 14” x 14” | 22.5” x 18” x 17” | 24” x 16” x 16” | 18” x 18” x 13.5” | 18” x 17.5” x 13” 21” x 18.5” x 16.5” | 21” x 14” x 15” | 24” x 14” x 16.5” | 24.5” x 16.5” x 16.5”
TG 4549

Blown Away | 2021
Sandstone
In 9 parts: 18” x 14” x 14” | 22.5” x 18” x 17” | 24” x 16” x 16” | 18” x 18” x 13.5” | 18” x 17.5” x 13” 21” x 18.5” x 16.5” | 21” x 14” x 15” | 24” x 14” x 16.5” | 24.5” x 16.5” x 16.5”
TG 4549

Inquire
Time Line | 2022
Sumi ink, indigo, earth and pigments on canvas
60" x 58"
TG 4278

Time Line | 2022
Sumi ink, indigo, earth and pigments on canvas
60" x 58"
TG 4278

Inquire
Dot, line, space, shadow | 2022
Mild steel
Dimensions variable
TG 4566

Dot, line, space, shadow | 2022
Mild steel
Dimensions variable
TG 4566

Inquire
Untitled | 2022
Terracotta, pigments and concrete
25″ x 25″ x 14″
TG 4861

Untitled | 2022
Terracotta, pigments and concrete
25″ x 25″ x 14″
TG 4861

Inquire
Line traveled | 2023
Pastel, paper on board, wood
51.5" x 35" x 2"
TG 4859

Line traveled | 2023
Pastel, paper on board, wood
51.5" x 35" x 2"
TG 4859

Inquire
Sea in the shell | 2021
Teak wood
30' x 28" x 19"
TG 4550

Sea in the shell | 2021
Teak wood
30' x 28" x 19"
TG 4550

Inquire
Nothing to see | 2022
Mild steel
55" x 55" x 91"
TG 4565

Nothing to see | 2022
Mild steel
55" x 55" x 91"
TG 4565

Inquire
Here and there | 2022
Sandstone
23″ x 21″ x 22″ 
TG 4568

Here and there | 2022
Sandstone
23″ x 21″ x 22″ 
TG 4568

Inquire
Time twist | 2022
Cast iron
42.5″ x 17″ x 17″
TG 4567

Time twist | 2022
Cast iron
42.5″ x 17″ x 17″
TG 4567

Inquire
647, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
11.5” x 7.25”  | Framed: 23.5” x 18.5” x 2”
TG 4539

647, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
11.5” x 7.25”  | Framed: 23.5” x 18.5” x 2”
TG 4539

Inquire
Yet to reach | 2022
Acrylic, iron, pigments on board
14" x 21" x 2"
TG 4289

Yet to reach | 2022
Acrylic, iron, pigments on board
14" x 21" x 2"
TG 4289

Inquire
653, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
8.5” x 12.5” | Framed: 18.5” x 23.5” x 2”
TG 4538

653, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
8.5” x 12.5” | Framed: 18.5” x 23.5” x 2”
TG 4538

Inquire
Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
75" x 122″
TG 4558

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
75" x 122″
TG 4558

Untitled | 2022
Earth and oil on canvas
40″ x 70″ | Framed: 41" x 71"
TG 4559

Untitled | 2022
Earth and oil on canvas
40″ x 70″ | Framed: 41" x 71"
TG 4559

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
49″ x 76″
TG 4560

Untitled | 2022
Oil on canvas
49″ x 76″
TG 4560

Swirl | 2020
Earth, plaster on board
48″ x 96″
TG 4548

Swirl | 2020
Earth, plaster on board
48″ x 96″
TG 4548

Drift | 2022
Earth, cast fiberglass, wood
78" x 78" x 2.5"  | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4564

Drift | 2022
Earth, cast fiberglass, wood
78" x 78" x 2.5"  | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4564

Nathikarai | 2022
Earth on canvas
34″ x 67″ 
TG 4535

Nathikarai | 2022
Earth on canvas
34″ x 67″ 
TG 4535

Lost light | 2022
Iron, terracotta, canvas, wood
76" x 72" x 13"
TG 4545

Lost light | 2022
Iron, terracotta, canvas, wood
76" x 72" x 13"
TG 4545

Cloud Stone | 2020
Watercolor on cast fiberglass
32" x 32" x 4.5" | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4553

Cloud Stone | 2020
Watercolor on cast fiberglass
32" x 32" x 4.5" | Installation dimensions variable
TG 4553

In the air | 2021
Indigo and earth on canvas 
44" x 44" x 2"
TG 4544

In the air | 2021
Indigo and earth on canvas 
44" x 44" x 2"
TG 4544

Blown Away | 2021
Sandstone
In 9 parts: 18” x 14” x 14” | 22.5” x 18” x 17” | 24” x 16” x 16” | 18” x 18” x 13.5” | 18” x 17.5” x 13” 21” x 18.5” x 16.5” | 21” x 14” x 15” | 24” x 14” x 16.5” | 24.5” x 16.5” x 16.5”
TG 4549

Blown Away | 2021
Sandstone
In 9 parts: 18” x 14” x 14” | 22.5” x 18” x 17” | 24” x 16” x 16” | 18” x 18” x 13.5” | 18” x 17.5” x 13” 21” x 18.5” x 16.5” | 21” x 14” x 15” | 24” x 14” x 16.5” | 24.5” x 16.5” x 16.5”
TG 4549

Time Line | 2022
Sumi ink, indigo, earth and pigments on canvas
60" x 58"
TG 4278

Time Line | 2022
Sumi ink, indigo, earth and pigments on canvas
60" x 58"
TG 4278

Dot, line, space, shadow | 2022
Mild steel
Dimensions variable
TG 4566

Dot, line, space, shadow | 2022
Mild steel
Dimensions variable
TG 4566

Untitled | 2022
Terracotta, pigments and concrete
25″ x 25″ x 14″
TG 4861

Untitled | 2022
Terracotta, pigments and concrete
25″ x 25″ x 14″
TG 4861

Line traveled | 2023
Pastel, paper on board, wood
51.5" x 35" x 2"
TG 4859

Line traveled | 2023
Pastel, paper on board, wood
51.5" x 35" x 2"
TG 4859

Sea in the shell | 2021
Teak wood
30' x 28" x 19"
TG 4550

Sea in the shell | 2021
Teak wood
30' x 28" x 19"
TG 4550

Nothing to see | 2022
Mild steel
55" x 55" x 91"
TG 4565

Nothing to see | 2022
Mild steel
55" x 55" x 91"
TG 4565

Here and there | 2022
Sandstone
23″ x 21″ x 22″ 
TG 4568

Here and there | 2022
Sandstone
23″ x 21″ x 22″ 
TG 4568

Time twist | 2022
Cast iron
42.5″ x 17″ x 17″
TG 4567

Time twist | 2022
Cast iron
42.5″ x 17″ x 17″
TG 4567

647, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
11.5” x 7.25”  | Framed: 23.5” x 18.5” x 2”
TG 4539

647, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
11.5” x 7.25”  | Framed: 23.5” x 18.5” x 2”
TG 4539

Yet to reach | 2022
Acrylic, iron, pigments on board
14" x 21" x 2"
TG 4289

Yet to reach | 2022
Acrylic, iron, pigments on board
14" x 21" x 2"
TG 4289

653, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
8.5” x 12.5” | Framed: 18.5” x 23.5” x 2”
TG 4538

653, Vadakku Papankulam | 2022
Earth on paper, artist frame
8.5” x 12.5” | Framed: 18.5” x 23.5” x 2”
TG 4538

Bala’s works have been featured in exhibitions and collections worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), New York; The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; Guggenheim Museum, New York; Mori Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi, India; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington; École des Beaux Arts, Paris, France; Lalbhai Museum, Ahmedabad, India; Essl Museum, Austria; National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, Australia, 1st Singapore Biennale; and 18th Sydney Biennale. In 2001 he was given the Joan Miro foundation award accompanied by a solo exhibition. Bala has been a guest lecturer at the Art Department of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and a featured speaker at TED.

Alwar Balasubramaniam (Bala) was born in 1971 in Tamil Nadu, India. He received a BFA from the Government College of Arts, Chennai, India, in 1995 after which he continued his studies in Edinburgh and Vienna. In 1998 he was artist in residence at The MacDowell Colony in NH after which he returned to Bangalore, where he lived and practiced till 2015. Subsequently Bala moved to the countryside near Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu where he created his home and studio and continues to live and work. 

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