Exploration, introspection, commentary: The journey of sculptor Vishal Kavatekar
In this photo essay from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, we showcase a range of artworks and creator insights.
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 900 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.
Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath is hosting a crafts fair as well as an art exhibition this weekend. The fair is organised by the Crafts Council of Karnataka, while the art showcase features the works of Vishal Kavatekar (see our coverage of earlier exhibitions at this popular cultural hub here).
Kavatekar is an innovative sculptor and educator who graduated from Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath and Bangalore University. The exhibition showcases the different techniques, materials and themes he has worked with over the years.
“This is not merely a solo show, but an introspective journey that explores the very essence of art itself. This exhibition is unique, and I truly believe it is an opportunity that will not come again,” Kavatekar tells YourStory.
The exhibition brings together a confluence of factors that have allowed this moment to unfold. “When I say It will not happen again, it is not an attitude, but a deep sense of gratitude,” he adds.
He won awards from Karnataka Shilpakala Academy, Karnataka Lalitkala Academy, and Mysore Dasara Exhibition. He has participated in exhibitions across India and at the Seychelles Biennalle 2022.
“This exhibition transcends a mere collection of artworks; it is about art itself. This focus has been deeply important to me, as my artistic journey has raised profound questions regarding the nature of art and its practice," Kavatekar explains.
His solo exhibitions have been titled Life Doesn’t Exist Without Expression, Recurrence, Shrusthi, and Reality Cheque. He has also participated in group exhibitions such as The Pollen waits on Tip-toe and Constorium, and conducted camps and workshops in Srinagar, Shivamogga, Gulbarga, Vijayapur, Imphal, Kundapura, Arsikere, and Belagavi.
“Coming from a legacy of traditional artists such as Tippaji and others, I embarked on my artistic journey by joining an art institute. There, I encountered a stark contrast that shocked me and provoked serious questions about the purpose and practice of art,” Kavatekar recalls.
His exhibition is layered, exploring the multiplicity of art. “It demonstrates how art serves many purposes and plays diverse roles,” he says.
The work called Ek se anek reflects how creation unfolds in layers, with each stage revealing new directions. The sculptural trio titled All are not Same is made from three distinct materials—metal, fibreglass, and paper pulp—metaphorically reflecting diversity at the human level as well.
“The exhibition delves into the importance of love, dedication, sincerity, and involvement in the process of creation. This is not merely shown through examples, but through lived practice and realisation,” he describes.
Vishal Kavatekar
One of his art series is titled Adorning Silence. “Silence is often overlooked, mistaken for absence, yet it holds its own existential weight—a presence beyond sound. It is not empty but vast, a space where the unseen unfolds, where the ineffable finds its voice,” he describes.
An eye-catching installation in golden lace is titled Ek ke baad ek. “Creating this piece helped me see connections to ideas like responsibility, desire, and ambition. These aspects of life demand reflection. With such thoughts, we enter an endless cycle, weaving thread after thread of responsibility,” Kavatekar explains.
Another collection of art installations is titled Bits & Pieces. “It is a commentary on how modern living fragments houses into isolated rooms, mirroring the disconnection between people,” he explains.
“We glimpse only fragments of each other’s lives. We rarely acknowledge the unique stories everyone carries," Kavatekar observes.
This work thus not only examines physical living spaces but also explores the metaphorical spaces within us. "It uncovers the unseen human stories that shape our shared existence,” he adds.
This exhibition is deeply rooted in the culture and legacy he belongs to. “It has not only affirmed my beliefs but has also allowed me to question and redefine those beliefs, ultimately leading me to my own realisations,” Kavtekar signs off.
Now, what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and harness your creative side for a better world?
(All photographs taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath.)
Edited by Kanishk Singh