"Venice Suite 2008" RAGHAVA K.K
The 'Venice Suite' series is essentially an expression of balance. It hovers in the
tenuous space between the sensual and sexual and explores the equilibrium
between reality and fantasy that exists in my artistic world.
I
have always been fascinated by my ability to express what does not exist. As an
artist, I have the privilege of depicting that which is authentic, which
actually appears in the way I have shown it, alongside that which is imagined,
created by my own mind. Both types of expression are equally strong in my work,
and I enjoy the fact that they are able to coexist in harmony. In this series
of work, I have attempted to play with this idea of reality vs. fantasy, using
the symbolic language of two very different masks.
I
chose to create this series using the imagery of the Venetian mask, as it is an
object that evokes a multiplicity of emotions in me. It can haunt, inspire, and
instill fear at the same time. I spent time in Venice in 2006, learning how to
create this mask, and since then, have chosen to incorporate it into my
artwork.
In
order to give more depth to the idea of a fantasy world, I have chosen to use
elements of story-boarding, bringing sketches, cartoons, and drawings into the
scene. My fascination with the visual language of underground comics is also
apparent in this series, in which there are several figures that seem to take
on the personas of these comic heroes and heroines. Artistically, I have also
attempted to push forward the limits of sensuality, using more daring imagery
to evoke beauty and aesthetic pleasure.
RAGHAVA
K.K.