#atulbhalla

[harvard-art-museums-photography]

I Was Not Waving But Drowning II, Atul Bhalla, 2005, Harvard Art Museums: Photographs

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Jose M. Soriano © Atul Bhalla, courtesy sepiaEYE Size: 27.94 x 19.05 cm (11 x 7 1/2 in.) Medium: Digital pigment photograph face-mounted to Plexiglas

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/330125

[harvard-art-museums-photography]

I Was Not Waving But Drowning II, Atul Bhalla, 2005, Harvard Art Museums: Photographs

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Jose M. Soriano © Atul Bhalla, courtesy sepiaEYE Size: 27.94 x 19.05 cm (11 x 7 1/2 in.) Medium: Digital pigment photograph face-mounted to Plexiglas

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/330127

[harvard-art-museums-photography]

I Was Not Waving But Drowning II, Atul Bhalla, 2005, Harvard Art Museums: Photographs

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Jose M. Soriano © Atul Bhalla, courtesy sepiaEYE Size: 27.94 x 19.05 cm (11 x 7 1/2 in.) Medium: Digital pigment photograph face-mounted to Plexiglas

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/330132

[ciciiliu]

On Atul Bhalla

Atul Bhalla is an artist that works in all kinds of mediums (aka a gamut) ranging from photography, sculpture, painting, installation, video, and performance. He explores the political significance of water to different environments and the population of his city, New Delhi by using these mediums. His works all explore important topics about water and raises awareness of the importance of conserving and having water. He studies all aspects of water and makes an important point about not wasting it in his artworks. His relationship with water is personal-- having lived and being from New Delhi, he knows how rough it is to gather and have an enough supply of water to provide for all. New Delhi only receives about 17 days of rain a year, not nearly enough to provide 24 hour supplies of water to its citizens. 

I think it is really interesting how Bhalla uses various memories from his childhood as inspirations for his art. Memories and sounds of dropping water can lead to a new creation and installation. An article I enjoyed reading about Bhalla when I did some prior research consisted of him saying in an interview that he had memories of the sound of water hitting a bucket when his family was gathering water, and he created a similar wooden sculpture named “Nothing Reached Home” from that memory. Before knowing the story of the piece, I was mesmerized by the craftsmanship and the various shades of wood in the sculpture. After knowing more about the story, it became even more intriguing to me, and I loved it even more. He creates a lot from his senses and experiences, a value I strive to take from his lecture, and hold on to with my own artworks as well. His experiences very much make who he is as an artist and what he creates. 

I like to connect my personal experiences with my artwork, making pieces that have an overall theme as well as a very personal feel to it. Although people can tell the themes of my work, they usually have a much more personal story to it that needs to be further explained, just like Bhalla. I wish to create more from memory, though-- and I have been doing so by keeping a memory/dream journal where I make tiny sketches of what I have imagine/think about. 

Bhalla’s work reminds me of Lee Bul’s art. Although the two’s art explore topics that are widely different, the two are able to create meaningful pieces inspired by their own experiences and memories. They are both able to create pieces that are focused on one topic, Bhalla being water and Bul being the korean govenment/ questioning the patriarchal society. They use their own personal memories and experiences to further their art, and I think that is really powerful. Their installations are all very weird-looking and one-of-a-kind, and I appreciate that from them. 

I will use my memory to make artwork that speaks to people. I wish for it to be mesmerizing without needing to know the background, like Bhalla, but at the same time also captivating with knowing the background and at the same time not taking away from the original work.

December 7 2020

[ciciiliu]

Atul Bhalla-- Sculptures/Installations I Liked

In order: Immersed 36 (2005), Two Mashks (2007), Piao I (2009) 

It was interesting for me to see the progression/ difference of sculptures that Bhalla presented between 2005-2009. Although there were 2 years between each sculpture, you can see the difference yet similarities in each piece. 

[harvard-art-museums-photography]

I Was Not Waving But Drowning II, Atul Bhalla, 2005, Harvard Art Museums: Photographs

Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Purchase through the generosity of Jose M. Soriano Size: 27.94 x 19.05 cm (11 x 7 1/2 in.) Medium: Digital pigment photograph face-mounted to Plexiglas

https://www.harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/330129