P.3: Pushpamala N. from India

           Born in 1956 in Bangalore, India, Pushpamala N. was trained as a sculptor at Bangalore University from 1976 to 1977 where she studied under Balan Nambiar and graduated with Bachelors in Economics, English and Psychology. She then pursued her studies in sculpture at the Faculty of Fine Arts at The MS (Maharaja Sayajirao) University, Baroda, where she completed a Bachelors and then a Masters degree in 1985. There, she was influenced by the sculptor Raghav Kaneria, as well as by Bhupen Khakhar and K.G. Subramanyan. Her first solo exhibition was at the Venkatappa Art Gallery in Bangalore in 1983.
Starting with figurative sculptures made in terracotta, then assemblages of objects made of cheap materials, she shifted her practice to photography in the late 1990's. She is best known for her photo and video performances in which she explores her interest in narrative figuration. Her work extend also to experimental short films, live performances and sculptural tableaux.
Dressing in period costumes, Pushpamala in her enactments provides a critique of female stereotypes in India, incorporating popular culture in the process and "deconstructs the ethnographic as well as the colonial gaze". She examines issues of gender, place and history with a comical twist particularly in her "photoromance" set in Mumbai. Using her body as a canvas, she brings up subjects related to politics, feminism, religion and class warfare.
Her work has been compared to Cindy Sherman’s. She lives and works in Bangalore.
Her major solo shows have been at Walsh Gallery, Chicago (2003); 'Golden Dreams', photographs, solo show, Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore (2002); 'Golden Dreams' Gallery Chemould, Mumbai (2001); 'Phantom Lady or Kismet', a photo romance, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai and Artistís Studio, Bangalore (1998); 'Excavations', solo show of sculpture, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai (1994).Her selective participations include 'New Indian Art', Manchester Art Gallery, UK (2002); 'Ways of Resisting', Sahmat, New Delhi (2002); Art Action for Gujarat, art show and raffle, Bangalore (2002); 'Century City' Tate Modern, London, UK (2001); 'Moving Ideas' Hoopoe Curatorial, Montreal and Vancouver, Canada (2001); Khoj International Residency, New Delhi (2001); Open Circle International Workshop, Mumbai (2000). In 1999 she curated an exhibition of large site specific works, Sthala Puranagalu, Bangalore.Her work has been exhibited internationally in shows including: 'Seven Young Sculptors' Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi (1985); 2nd International Women's Festival Bangkok (1992); 'Timeless Art', Times of India (V.T.Station, Mumbai); '100 Years of NGMA' National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi (1995); 'Africus-Johannesburg Biennale' South Africa (1995); 'Telling Tales' Bath Festival Trust, traveling exhibition, England (1997). She has taught and lectured widely on arts.

Pushpamala N is the recipient of many honors, including the National Award (1984); the gold medal at the Sixth New Delhi Triennale (1986); the Charles Wallace Trust
Her work has been exhibited internationally in shows including: 'Seven Young Sculptors' Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi (1985); 2nd International Women's Festival Bangkok (1992); 'Timeless Art', Times of India (V.T.Station, Mumbai); '100 Years of NGMA' National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi (1995); 'Africus-Johannesburg Biennale' South Africa (1995); 'Telling Tales' Bath Festival Trust, traveling exhibition, England (1997). She has taught and lectured widely on arts.
Pushpamala N is the recipient of many honors, including the National Award (1984); the gold medal at the Sixth New Delhi Triennale (1986); the Charles Wallace Trust Fellowship for residency at St. Martin's School of Art, London (1992-93); the Senior Fellowship, Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development (1995-97).

links to articles featuring Pushpamala and her work
Artsome
Saatchi gallery
Artsy
The Guardian