5 Sterling Artworks by Sheela Gowda

Sheela Gowda is among the most refined and original artists in the world of sculptors.

A connoisseur of installations and unique material, Sheela began her art career in the 1990s by painting.

India is her main inspiration, with her work encapsulating poor conditions and aiming to provide a voice for those who have none.

A champion of unlikely sources, Sheela has used a variety of things in her artwork, including car bumpers, human hair, and cowpat.

Scraps of tarpaulin and oil drums are also seen in her work, with each object having a hidden meaning.

DESIblitz proudly presents a curated list of five sterling artworks by Sheela Gowda, of which every art aficionado must be aware.

Behold

First shown at the 53rd Venice Biennale, this installation is carved out of 4,000 metres of rope.

This rope is woven out of human hair, and entangled within it are 20 steel car bumpers.

This highlights Sheela Gowda’s penchant for using strange material, carving her niche and resourcefulness.

The installation is inspired by motorists in Bengaluru tying woven hair to car bumpers for their safety.

Filling a room, Behold forms a three-dimensional artwork.

Suggesting the human form, coils of hair surround it on the floor.

This piece marks “a coming of fear, superstition, belief and a need for comforting action in the frame of modern life”.

Behold is an unforgettable, deep installation that showcases Sheela’s representations and versatility.

This, Deathless

This, Deathless photographs a sculptural collage.

It capitalises on Sheela Gowda’s interest in the power that objects carry towards aspects of reality and social and cultural narratives.

Shaped like a butterfly, This, Deathless conveys metaphors that are perhaps forgotten in human languages.

Made with inkjet print on paper, it may seem like an easy artwork to create.

However, simmering underneath is an urgent message of spiritual tension and the complex world of Sheela.

Talking about why she transitioned from painting to sculpting, Sheela says:

“I do not think what happens outside by itself can make a transformation within you – it has to come from certain needs within you.

“It was to do with certain artistic concerns, certain political situations, one’s response and questions about them as an artist, as an individual and as a citizen.”

These words are aptly represented by This, Deathless. 

Stopover

In 2012, Bengaluru witnessed a building explosion. This metonymy produced shortly afterwards is a physical representation of the incident.

The piece comprises 200 granite spice-grinding stones that are all handmade.

They are dotted across a floor and symbolise the undervalue of such stones.

They were once considered sacred but are now known to be abandoned at roadsides.

Stopover is a complex array of emotions that underscores to poor infrastructure, trade, and construction. It acts as a tribute to the labour of Bengaluru.

Discussing her connection with the city, Sheela explains: “Cultural nuances are understandable to me, as is the economic reality of daily life as I observe it.

“However, these realities do not translate into art without a larger thinking – it needs a language, a historical context, an individual process of framing questions for oneself to begin an artwork.

“It might be that I find a material that excites me whilst looking for another. I don’t wander the city looking for materials as such.

“It is one of those moments when a certain need within me finds resonance in what I find.”

Of All People

In Of All People, Sheela cultivates a mosaic of recycled material, including doorjambs, window frames, and a wooden table.

These were items that were torn down as part of Bengaluru’s modernisation.

Using a beautiful display of different colours, Sheela Gowda brought these objects back to life, painting them in shades of yellow, turquoise and pink.

The objects are placed delicately and in a meticulous fashion.

The result is an original installation populated with wooden votive figurines that are commonly used in social rituals.

Observing the artwork, one finds oneself in a different world – one that pays homage to Bengaluru like never before.

Therefore, Of All People doesn’t just represent Sheela’s artistic talent, but also her commitment and patriotism towards her city and her country.

Cut Flowers

Cut Flowers, as the name suggests, is a representation of flowers that have been disrespected but still stand tall and determined to bloom.

The artwork features a line-up of stems.

Like her other works, the material is rife with the culture and politics of India and addresses the experiences of underrepresented workers.

Cut Flowers emboldens the essential voice of Sheela Gowda with a spark that is necessary for people to have their thoughts conveyed.

Sheela Gowda is an artist in a league of her own, uniquely crafting her work.

Her proactivity in using discarded material indicates her ability to make something more out of small things.

For her depth and curiosity, she deserves our applause and commendation.

If you’re an artist or someone who is looking to enter the field, have a look at Sheela Gowda’s sterling artworks.

You will be impressed and inspired!