Artist
K. Benitha Perciyal
Thiruvannamalai · Chennai
Ashvita's
Chennai-based artist known for sensorial installations using organic, time-sensitive materials.
Biography
Benitha Perciyal's sculptural practice is deeply rooted in her Christian faith, influencing both her thematic concerns and her unique choice of materials. Her work is predominantly figurative, but unlike much contemporary sculpture, it embraces a slow, deliberate process and eschews synthetic compounds. Perciyal's distinctive medium consists of the very herbs and oils used in incense: myrrh, cinnamon, cloves, frankincense, lemongrass, bark powder, and cedar. She utilizes these organic compounds to cast both found objects and her own sculpted forms. This process is remarkably time-intensive, demanding months or even years for the materials to cure, a testament to her rejection of rapid, industrialized production. The figures themselves are frequently fragmented rather than complete, conveying a duality of suffering and transcendence. This intentional incompleteness invites viewers to contemplate themes of human vulnerability and spiritual uplift. Further enhancing the contemplative and timeless quality of her work are the pedestals on which these sculptures rest. Crafted from seasoned and scarred wood, these bases evoke a sense of antiquity that stands in stark contrast to the fast-paced, often fleeting nature of the contemporary art world. Through her distinctive approach, Perciyal creates art that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.
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