Bose Krishnamachari

- Born in 1963 Magattukara village near Angamaly, Kerala 

- Lives and works in Mumbai, India 

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Bose Krishnamachari’s works exude brightness and dynamism brought forth by the use of vivid colours all while being socio-politically driven, fleshed out in ironies and subversions. From his abstractions to his new media installations, the primary focus of his work has always been the world around him, his encounters with people, the power dynamics within, and how he perceives them all. The role of bureaucracy is either upfront or subtly in background. Bose refrains from being pinned down into neat categories of identity.  

“I would like to present my identity more as a fluid one – as an artist, a designer, a curator, an organizer, a fashion aficionado, a gallerist and so on. I don’t want to be categorized,” he says. The city of Mumbai has been a constant source of inspiration for Bose’s work. From his days in the early 1980s as a student in JJ School of Art, he has tried to imbibe himself in the fabric of the city, soaking in all experiences the city could offer. “It is a city of people not of ‘djinns’; it is a city of life, not of tombs; it is a city of ‘chawls’, not of historic ruins. The life here always inspires me. Even if I had the opportunity to live in any other city, I don’t think I would give up Mumbai”, says Bose.  

He has made several artworks attempting to understand the psyche of Mumbaikars and dedicate to the many lives that come to Mumbai for a better start in life while tracing the invisible connections they have. For him colours play a significant role in creating a new language. “I believe that colours can play a magical role and transform a body. They can sculpt something that is formless or abstract. They share positive vibes and represent maximum freshness, happiness, depth, layers and texture,” says Bose. He has been curating shows for over a decade, with the Kochi-Muziris Biennale in 2012 being a landmark occasion in the contemporary art scene in the country. 

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SELECTED IMAGES

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Bose Krishnamachari, GHOST, MUSIC OF THE CUBES 4, 2006, watercolor on canson paper, acrylic on board, 72 x 48 in

Bose Krishnamachari, Ghost-Transmemoir, 2008,108 used tiffins with LCD monitors, amplifiers, DVD players, headphones, cables, jute ropes, scaffolding, wood, 90 (height) x 150” (diameter)

Bose Krishnamachari, Mumbaikar-Host-Passport series (108 works), digital print on Museum portfolio rag, cine-screen, ball-point grid and Corean frame,16 x 16 x 2-6” each

Bose Krishnamachari, Root + Maps-Mondrianity, 2010, duco paint on wood and veneer, 125.5 x 135 x 12.9”

Bose Krishnamachari, Stretched Bodies 5, 2005, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 18”

Bose Krishnamachari, STRETCHED BODIES 29, 2007, acrylic on canvas, 36 x 72 in

Bose Krishnamachari, Untitled, 2007, ball pen and screen print on canvas, 72x72 inches

Bose Krishnamachari, Untitled, 2008, mix media on paper, 22 x 22”

Bose Krishnamachari, White Ghost And The Red Carpet, 2008, mixed media, dimensions variable

Mumbaikar-Host-Passport series

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