Atul Dodiya (b. 1959)

Venice Biennale, 2006

The work comprises of two canvases, one wall mounted and one mounted on metal crutches and attached to the wall with two further metal brackets. All elements appear to be in good overall condition. As viewed.
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This work is part of a series titled 'Stammer in the shade' which was shown at the Venice Biennale in 2006. Reflective of Atul Dodiya's increasing attention to a more active viewer involvement in Site specific installations, this work positions the viewer to challenge the immediately visible.  It creates an impetus for the viewer to become involved in developing an interpretation of the work: " the whole act of seeing art looking at a work of art is so complex.  I want to make the viewer more conscious of the act of looking.  When I make a canvas stand on crutches they get a strong physical presence, almost as if you are in front of a human being.  To hide a painting behind another painting, which  a viewer can't see properly, is frustrating and in the process the viewer would have to struggle hard, literally to see the image behind. I am also playing with the absurdity of claiming understanding to any work of art." (Atul Dodiya in an interview with Peter Nagy, iCon: India Contemporary, Venice 2005, p. 9).