‘Success comes only from tenacity and progression’ – Romicon Revola, sculptor and video artist
In Part II of our photo essay on the Art Bengaluru 2018 festival, we showcase more of the stunning works along with insights from artist journeys.
PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 255 posts, we featured an art festival, cartoon gallery. world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair, climate change expo, wildlife conference, startup festival, Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
The Art Bengaluru 2018 exhibition at UB City has added more colour and creativity to the Diwali festival season, thanks to a lineup of 17 artists from six cities: Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Indore. The festival will run through November 11, and is free for all (see Part I of our photo essay here).
Featured artists this year are Ashish Dubey, Ashu Gupta, Balan Nambiar, Chandan Bhowmick, D Venkatapathy, Devangana Kumar, Ganesh Selvaraj, Gurudas Shenoy, Kavita Jaiswal, Pallon Daruwala, Parvathi Nayar, Rohaan Sulaiman, Romicon Revola, S Ravi Shankar, Saju Kunhan, Vipta Kapadia and Yuvan Bothysathavur.
Romicon Revola (‘Romi’) is a Bengaluru-based contemporary artist whose works span public sculpture, painting and video. Some of her recent themes include the environment, sustainability and urbanisation.
Her works were first displayed in public in 2004, In Bengaluru, her large installations can be found in Cubbon Park, Manyata Business Park, and Golf Links Business Park. “My work spans utopian and dystopian themes, and is global in nature,” said Romi in a chat with YourStory. The works resonate with audiences “from Mysore to Miami,” she added.
She feels public art should engage with audiences, inspire them, and make them reflect. At the Art Bengaluru festival, Romi presents two video projects. One evokes the meditative nature of moving water in a droplet form, while the other is a dynamic morphing building that reflects the relentless pace of urbanisation. The sculpture in the middle reflects the balance between the two, with round droplets embedded on a spherical grid.
“For me, success is if people remember my art, and if it brings them joy. My childhood dream was to be an architect and build monuments, now I combine architecture with art,” Romi explains.
As advice to aspiring artists, she cautions that the journey takes a lot of patience and practice. “Success comes only from tenacity and progression,” says Romi. Just completing 20 pieces of art and having a solo exhibition is not enough.
“You have to evolve as an artist, and need to have several bodies of work. You need to have something to say, a message. Curators also look for artists who are in it for the long run. It is a long haul to find success,” Romi signs off.
Now what have you done today to get started on your creative path, and commit yourself to the tough but rewarding journey?
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