When the twain met

Komu: Naturally, the approach is different. I have in fact shown my photographs before, an exhibition in Spain that was also displayed in India. Do you remember?nbsp;

Sabavala: Yes, I remember now. I do enjoy the works of some photographers like Ketki Seth and Probir Gupta. Often, though, I find the preoccupation with the underbelly of the city a little disconcerting.
This celebration of the cult of the grotesque is not for me. I do like aesthetic beauty. What do you think?

Komu: For me, the city is certainly a major source of inspiration. It represents the here and now. I do feel that the responsibility of a generation is on our shoulders and our aesthetics may be governed by different factors. It8217;s important for me to reflect my times. It really depends on how well the artist, the photographer or the installation artist is able to convey these concerns. For me, the works of Francis Alluzi encapsulate this well. He uses images of the roadside shoe-polish boy and synchronises it with classical music to bring about the interface of different economic groups. It8217;s succinct and clever.

Sabavala: Unfortunately, I have not seen his works. Sometimes the novelty of seeing something new in art is exciting, but it has to have substance and depth. Works should not be too clever for that takes away from the seriousness of the subject.

Komu: I could not agree more. However, by now one has enough exposure to recognise when an artist is doing something just for the sake of keeping up with trends and when he or she is really committed to the exploration of new media and contemporary themes.

Sabavala: I would agree with you that a generation of artists must reflect its time. With the advent of the computer age, the young generation is witnessing a revolution. I am happy to appreciate it from the sidelines as a spectator, since at my age I neither have the time nor the inclination to get involved in new media. I do feel that there are nuances of painting that I am yet to explore and discover. I would need much more time to study the new methods before I begin to practice.

Komu: The challenges of your generation were also different. The nation was just emerging then and there was a need to establish a feeling of longevity and consistency8212;an art that will last. In our times, things are ephemeral. Change is the only constant and we must address that through our art.
We must take references from our own time though one may explore mediums that are varied. Though many in my generation have been exploring fibre glass, I concern myself with older materials like wood and metal for my sculptures. I use them in a very contemporary context.

Sabavala: True, it does not matter really if you belong to a generation that works with wood or fibre glass; whether you are an artist from Kerala or Mumbai. What ultimately matters is that one leaves your show feeling that one has gained something; the work has touched one8217;s life in a way that is not superficial or 8216;clever8217;. I must say that I find some new media works a little bewildering and not easy to enter. Sometimes one is left wondering if this is art at all or just novelty.

Komu: New media art can be bewildering since it8217;s in a nascent stage. There is not enough awareness about it, for it is not even taught in art colleges. While the medium is very inclusive and incorporates disciplines like Internet art, performance art and digital art, people are yet to accept these as art forms. While in the West there is already a platform for it, in India it is still considered a new art form. With time and more awareness, people will find this less bewildering.

Sabavala: Well, Riyas. It was lovely meeting you. All the best for your show.

Komu: Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.

Conversation moderated
by Georgina Maddox