Shailesh B.R. Indian, b. 1986

Biography

Born in 1986, Shailesh B.R. received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, specialising in painting, from the Chamarajendran Academy of Visual Arts, Mysore, and has a post-graduate diploma from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Baroda. His practice revolves around the nature of processes – of philosophical thought, art and rituals, expressed through a visual vocabulary that makes the viewer reimagine the purpose and function of routine objects. His works are playful reconfigurations of philosophical thought through mechanical means. His drawings (which unapologetically reject any grammatical precision) question the staunch formalism associated with art and use the premise of honest artistic wonder instead to explore how errors can be made in how he sees, perceives and defends his ideas.

 

Shailesh’s solo exhibitions include The Last Brahmin at the prestigious Villa Arson in Nice, France (2020); a virtual show titled Notes to Self (2020) and Tarka (2017) at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi.

 

He has also participated in various group shows, including Hub India, Turin, Italy (2021); Colomboscope, Sri Lanka (2021); Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi (2021, 2019, 2018); Birla Academy of Arts & Culture, Kolkata (2021); Busan Video Art Festival, South Korea (2021) ; BIG Biennale, Geneva (2019); Shrine Empire (2018); Sensorium, Sunaparanta, Goa (2018); Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai (2017); Students Biennale, Kochi–Muziris Biennale (2015); the Center for International Modern Art, Kolkata (2014); and Gallery Espace, New Delhi (2014), among others.

 

In 2021, Shailesh was a finalist for the Sovereign Art Prize and exhibited his work at the finalists’ exhibition Hong Kong. He was awarded the FICA Emerging Artist Award in 2016 and the Inlaks Fine Arts Award in 2014. He has completed residencies at Villa Arson, Nice, France (2020); the Embassy of Foreign Artists Residency, Geneva, Switzerland (2019); and Atelier Mondial / Pro Helvetia – Swiss Art Council, Basel, Switzerland (2016), among other national residencies.

 

The artist lives and works in New Delhi, India.

Works
Exhibitions
Art Fairs
Bulletin