Draft:Tensing Joseph
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Tensing Joseph | |
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| Born | 1962 (age 63) Panamkutty, Kerala, India |
| Education | BFA, College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum; MFA, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan |
| Years active | 1987- present |
| Known for | Sculpture, Installation Art, Conceptual Art |
| Notable work | The Logic of Umbilical Cord (2021) |
| Movement | Surrealism, Conceptual Art |
Tensing Joseph (born 1962) is an Indian sculptor, painter, conceptual artist, and art educator from Kerala. He is known for his multidisciplinary methodology that integrates sculpture, installation, and conceptual art, and his works have been exhibited internationally. His art often explores the human condition, environmental conflicts, and socio-political realities through surrealist and philosophical expressions.
Early Life and Education
[edit]Tensing Joseph was born in Panamkutty, Kerala, India, and currently resides in Thiruvananthapuram. He developed an early interest in the arts, particularly sculpture, which led him to pursue formal education in the field.
He earned his:
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum, University of Kerala (1980–1986).
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal (2005–2007).
His mentors included:
- Prof. Kanayi Kunhiraman, legendary sculptor and former head of the Department of Sculpture at the College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum.
- Prof. Sarbari Roy Choudhury, renowned sculptor and former head of the Department of Sculpture at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan.
Artistic Career
[edit]Tensing began his professional art career in 1987, gaining experience in traditional stone carving in the village of Myladi, Tamil Nadu. He later moved to Santiniketan, where he was widely motivated by experimental works.
His practice blends the vocabulary of Surrealism and Conceptual art, often using wood and mixed media to examine the tension between humans and nature, fantasy and reality, and culture and politics. His works are recognized for their philosophical undertones and narrative depth, highlighting ecological awareness and human consciousness. The human figure is central to his artistic practice, often symbolizing struggle, transformation, and continuity.
One of Tensing’s most acclaimed installations is “The Logic of Umbilical Cord” (2021), a large-scale installation created for the Kochi Biennale Foundation’s “Lokame Tharavadu” exhibition in Alappuzha. Constructed from 1,500 wooden blocks, nylon threads, LED lights, and sound, it metaphorically represents the birth of ideas and the interconnectedness of human life. The installation draws parallels between biological and philosophical creation, reflecting on existence, independence, and the essence of survival.
His notable works include:
- Far and Near (2020) — Acrylic on canvas (300 x 180 cm).
- The Logic of Umbilical Cord (2021) — Wooden blocks, threads, LED light, and digital sound installation (192” x 48” x 144”).
Major Exhibitions
[edit]Solo Exhibitions
[edit]| Year | Work/Exhibition Title | Venue | Description |
| 2024–2025 | Between Objects and Myself | David Hall Gallery Café, Fort Kochi, | The exhibition features the relationship between everyday objects and human emotions in his exhibition “Between Objects and Myself" |
| 2022 | The Shirly P Pollock Show | J Erik Johnsson Central Library, Dallas, USA | The Shirly P Pollock" was a 2022 solo exhibition held at the J. Erik Johnsson Central Library in Dallas, Texas, featuring Tensing Joseph's mixed-media works that paid tribute to feminist narratives and celebrated the spirit of Women's History Month. |
| 2022 | What You Think Is Not Much Important to Me | Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Kochi, India | The exhibition of kinetic sculptures, wooden carvings, and paintings dabble in the philosophical and the magical |
| 2018 | Earth Worms | Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Trivandrum | A series of drawings, paintings, and installations reflecting on human coexistence and environmental crisis. |
| 2017 | Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi | ||
| 2015 | Durbar Hall Art Gallery, Kochi | ||
| 2010 | Confidential Report: The First Blueprints of War – Curated by Johny M.L | Triveni Art Gallery, New Delhi | Tensing Joseph’s paintings explore themes of surveillance, control, and human vulnerability in modern society. Using surreal symbolism—figures, eggs, angels, and technological motifs—he reflects on identity, freedom, and the manipulation of information. His works portray the tension between authority and individuality, merging personal expression with political critique. |
| 2008 | Objects of Resemblance – Curated by R. Nandakumar | Ishka Art Gallery, Kochi | Curated by the renowned art critic R. Nandakumar, the exhibition featured a collection of the artist's recent sculptures, paintings, and installations. The works explored organic forms and the relationship between humans and objects, delving into themes of identity, cultural symbolism, and the metaphorical connections that bind the natural world with human experience. The exhibition was accompanied by a published catalogue of the same name, further cementing its importance in the artist's career. |
| 2008 | Language and Meta Language | Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Trivandrum | Language and Meta Language was the exhibition of drawings and paintings by Tensing Joseph exploring the relationship between visual expression and its interpretation |
| 1998 | A Journey Beyond | Museum Art Gallery, Trivandrum, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi | Recent Sculptures, Drawings and Installations, curated by Johny ML. |
Group Exhibitions
[edit]| Year | Work/Exhibition Title | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Merci d’être venu toutnu | Motoco, Mulhouse, France |
| 2022 | Reno Tahoe International Art Show | Moonspace Art Gallery, Houston |
| 2021 | Hamptons Fine Arts Fair | Southampton Arts Centre, NY, USA |
| 2021 | The World is One Family | Kochi Biennale Foundation, Kerala |
| 2010 | II Moscow International “QUI VIVE?” Biennale for Young Art | Moscow Museum of Modern Art |
| 2012 | Confluence | Vam Art Gallery, New Jersey |
His works have also been showcased in the Kerala Museum, Vam Art Gallery (New Jersey), and Moonspace Art Gallery (Houston), among others.
Teaching and Academic Leadership
[edit]Tensing Joseph has made significant contributions to art education in Kerala, holding several academic and leadership roles:
- Lecturer in Sculpture, Government College of Fine Arts, Kerala (1996–2004)
- Professor of Sculpture, Government College of Fine Arts (2004–2011)
- Principal, Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikara (2013–2016)
- Principal, Government College of Fine Arts, Kerala (2017–2018)
- Honorary Director, Raja Ravi Varma Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts, University of Kerala (2022–2025)
He has organized and led numerous national art camps, workshops, and seminars, including the **“Semantic Complexity and Crisis of Language in Contemporary Art Discourses”** (2024), and public art projects for Kerala’s coastal communities.
Publications and Writings
[edit]Tensing's intellectual depth extends to writing, curation, and art criticism. He has authored and edited several publications, including:
- Insight and Outlook – by R. Nandakumar (Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, 2022)
- Between Object and Myself – Art historian M. Ramachandran (2025)
- What You Think Is Not Much Important to Me – by R. Nandakumar (2024)
- Beyond Boundaries – on artist Mohanan Vasudevan (2023)
- Ravi Rekha – Edited collection of essays on contemporary art (2016)
He has also written essays in Malayalam journals such as Mathrubhumi, Kalakaumudi, and Kalapurna, reflecting his critical engagement with contemporary art and cinema.
Collections and Recognition
[edit]His works are held in major institutional and private collections, including:
- National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi
- Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Thrissur
- Museum of Modern Art, Moscow
- Moonspace Art Gallery, Houston
- Vam Art Gallery, New Jersey
Awards and Distinctions
[edit]- National Award (1992) – Highly Commended Certificate, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
- Venkattappa Cheppudira Rajaram Memorial Award (1985) – Bangalore, India
Artistic Philosophy
[edit]Tensing Joseph’s art philosophy is rooted in the belief that art is a transformative language, capable of reshaping human consciousness. Influenced by figures such as Vincent van Gogh, Rabindranath Tagore, Hieronymus Bosch, and Gabriel García Márquez, his worldview blends existential thought with environmental empathy. He often asserts that **“art must arise from the soil it belongs to”**—a reflection of his upbringing in rural Kerala and his lifelong engagement with ecological and social realities.
Legacy and Influence
[edit]Tensing is regarded as one of Kerala’s foremost contemporary artists who successfully bridges academic art, philosophical thought, and public engagement. His works continue to inspire a new generation of artists to view art as both a spiritual and social dialogue.
External Links
[edit]- Moonspace Art Gallery – Artist Page
- The Hindu – “Tensing Joseph’s Sculptures Combine Mechanics”
- Indian Express – “Son of the Soil”
- YouTube Documentary
References
[edit]
- Chang, Alexandra (2014). "Approaching the Infinite Narrative – Asian Art 'Now': The Tomato Grey Artist Collective". Third Text. 28 (1): 13.
- Coffey, Mary Katherine (2000). "The 'Mexican Problem': Nation and 'Native' in Mexican Muralism and Cultural Discourse". In Denzin, Norman K. (ed.). Cultural Studies: A Research Annual. Vol. 5. Stanford. pp. 147–189.
- Jameson, Fredric (2015). "The Aesthetics of Singularity". *New Left Review**. 92: 107.
- Kapur, Geeta (1972). "In Quest of Identity: Art and Indigenism in post-colonial culture with special reference to contemporary Indian painting". *Vrischik**. 3 (8–9).
- Lee, Christopher (2014). "Globality and Aesthetics: Framing the Three Gorges Dam". Third Text. 28 (1): 33.
- Lieten, Georges Kristoffel (1979). "Progressive State Governments: An Assessment of the First Communist Ministry in Kerala". Economic and Political Weekly. 14 (1): 29–39.
- McEvilley, Thomas (2002). "Eurocentricism and Contemporary Indian Art". In Dalmia, Yashodhara (ed.). Contemporary Indian Art: Other Realities. Marg. 53 (3): 93.
- Murphy, Patrick D. (2014). "Damning Damming Modernity: The Destructive Role of Megadams". Quoted in Lee, Christopher. Third Text. 28 (1): 32.
- Nandakumar, R. (2007). "Installation/Investiture: The Sculptures and Drawings of Tensing Joseph". In Exhibition Catalogue: Objects of Resemblance. Santiniketan.
- Nandakumar, R. (2007). "The Syndrome of Radical Regression or The Anatomy of Cultural Schizophrenia". Tapasam: A Bilingual Journal for Kerala Studies. 3 (1–2): 185–203.
- Paunksnis, Šarūnas (2015). "Postmodern Experience in India: Imaginary Subaltern Space and Cinema". History and Sociology of South Asia. 9 (1): 36.
- "First Namboodiripad ministry". (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved [Date you accessed it], from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Namboodiripad_ministry