Saju Kunhan b. 1983
Ancestral histories/ stories #6, 2021
Image transfer on teak wood
(HSN Code: 970110)
(HSN Code: 970110)
15 x 11 inches
Copyright Saju Kunhan
In this series of works Saju is visualizing the chronicles of his ancestors. These are the stories or in a way history of the people connected or lived in his...
In this series of works Saju is visualizing the chronicles of his ancestors. These are the stories or in a way history of the people connected or lived in his family's two ancestral homes. He has titled the work histories/stories because the distinction between story and history is somehow vanishing. There are 7 works in this series and each work is a visualization of certain historic moments connected with the artist's ancestors. He has tagged individuals, objects and places in the work so it will be identified.
Moving in to a different time when colonialism got the dominance. This scene is probably from the last decade of 19th Century or in the early years of 20th Century. The British Sail Ship carrying Indian indentured laborers to their colony of Fiji Islands. A brother of Saju's great grandfather was an indentured labourer in Fiji. His name was Narayanan but his family called him 'Narayana Achan'. All the elders are father figures so 'Achan' is added along with everybody in the family. Most of the indentured labourers who had gone to Fiji did not return back to India because of the difficulties and the complexities of their agreement. But Narayana Achan managed to return to India after long years. Here is the scene of his great and tough journey to Fiji on a British Sail Ship. Normally it was taking 70-90 days to reach from India to Fiji on sail ships.
Moving in to a different time when colonialism got the dominance. This scene is probably from the last decade of 19th Century or in the early years of 20th Century. The British Sail Ship carrying Indian indentured laborers to their colony of Fiji Islands. A brother of Saju's great grandfather was an indentured labourer in Fiji. His name was Narayanan but his family called him 'Narayana Achan'. All the elders are father figures so 'Achan' is added along with everybody in the family. Most of the indentured labourers who had gone to Fiji did not return back to India because of the difficulties and the complexities of their agreement. But Narayana Achan managed to return to India after long years. Here is the scene of his great and tough journey to Fiji on a British Sail Ship. Normally it was taking 70-90 days to reach from India to Fiji on sail ships.
Literature
Mint, Top picks from the Mumbai Gallery Weekend, Feb 10 2022https://lifestyle.livemint.com/photos/top-picks-from-the-mumbai-gallery-weekend-111644468637547.html
Vogue, Mumbai Gallery Weekend: 8 shows you should check out, Feb 09 2022
https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/mumbai-gallery-weekend-shows-you-should-check-out
Take on Art, Ten Must Visit Shows in the 10th Mumbai Gallery Weekend, Feb 10 2022
https://takeonartmagazine.com/reviews/ten-must-visit-shows-in-the-10th-mumbai-gallery-weekend/
Architectural Digest, Saju Kunhan's new show 'Home Ground' journeys back to his roots in Kerala, Feb 02, 2022
https://www.architecturaldigest.in/story/saju-kunhans-new-show-home-ground-journeys-back-to-his-roots-in-kerala/