Sreeraj Gopinathan (born 20 May 1969 in Kollam, India) is a German contemporary artist of Indian descent. His work is characterized by its interdisciplinarity and dominated in particular by projects based on environmental and climate-relevant concepts.
The experiences of childhood in a traditional healer family and in the nature-rich environment of the coastal region of Kerala were decisive for Gopinathan's development.
For the first artistic experiments, he used natural materials and paper, which he combined with cooked rice as an adhesive in order to make plastic forms.
Often he drew or painted portraits of acquaintances from the neighbourhood but also of famous personalities. He preferred to choose older people, whose facial features reflected their past lives. Another interest in his youth was the discovery of the diversity of flavours and the use of spices in the cuisine of South India.
From 1987 to 1992, he studied painting at the Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts in Mavelikkara. The few resources at his disposal limited his beginnings to drawing and painting, in which he liked to capture human faces and natural structures. By combining the two, he developed his own style. In 1989 and 1993, he participated in the annual exhibition of the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, a cultural organization of the government of Kerala, and won the Annual State Award for Painting in 1993.
The enthusiasm for the humanistic and nature-bound life's work of the Indian poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore led Gopinathan to Santiniketan. From 1993 to 1996, he studied painting at the Visva-Bharati University under the painter Suhas Roy and, in parallel, the French language under the writer Saraju Gita Banerjee. In 1993, he was awarded the scholarship of Visva-Bharati University, and in 1995, the National Scholarship of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, government of India.
In 1996, Gopinathan received the Bourse du Gouvernement Français. With the residence scholarship, he studied fine arts at the École supérieure of the Beaux-Arts du Mans in France. Benefiting from the new techniques, he began experimenting with new components such as photography, light art, and installation. This resulted in a series of three-dimensional light-integrated objects.
In 1998, he moved to the southern German city of Coburg. Making use of the experience gained during his employment at Landestheater Coburg, he added a new segment − performance − to his compositions of light, darkness, and space. Gopinathan integrated a time-bound action of the audience into the perception process. The first presentation of those contemplation rooms took place in 2000 in the Hanseatic city of Lemgo. In the following years, he exhibited more works from this series in Ebern (2002), Bedheim (2002), Bad Königshofen in Grabfeld (2002), and Munich (2003).
Perception
Despite the different facets of his development, there exists a cohesion like a recurring theme throughout Gopinathan's creative process from the beginning − a universal attitude, the view of a large whole, of an intangible mystery, which seems to escape any attempt at rapprochement.
He states that his practice aims to integrate daily life and art into a unified process.
Sreeraj Gopinathan links his artistic projects to themes of daily living and sustainability, as described in project materials. Art, according to Gopinathan, is intended to encourage public engagement with environmental and ethical issues.
Projects
Earth architecture on the project OWIYAM terrain, 2011
In order to devote himself to detailed research, Gopinathan retired in 2004 from public appearances largely back. From his studies, two solution-oriented projects emerged, focusing on the relationship between nature and humans in the context of the drastic changes on Earth. To achieve this, he combined various disciplines such as art, science, philosophy, and ecology. Both projects allow an active participation of the audience in the artistic process. Sreeraj Gopinathan deems it a necessity to assign an existential purpose to his projects and therefore connects them to the mainstream of life. Art should serve here as a tool to stimulate a change of attitude towards a more conscious way of thinking and acting.
Project area, Kantalloor (Westghats), 2008Rare species in the highlands of South India, 2019Nature pond – a decisive part of symbiosis
Project OWIYAM
In 2005, Gopinathan launched his first large-scale project OWIYAM in Kanthalloor, a remote location in the mountainous region of South India known as Western Ghats. The surrounding forest is characterized by a unique flora and fauna, but is increasingly threatened by human influences. The project is dedicated to the construction of a timely Noah's Ark − a model space intended to support the preservation of rare species and promote coexistence between humans and nature. The ultimate aim is to preserve biodiversity in a protected area. The involvement of the local population is presupposed by the underlying concept. Ultimately, the project contributes to the conservation of the rainforest. Practical trainings offered on topics such as reforestation, permaculture, clay-architecture, climate-friendly nutrition and cooking methods as well as CO2-neutral energy production, are a crucial part of the project.
Climate-friendly cooking concept published in internet, project SAMASYA, 2016In 2018, around 1000 inhabitants of the forest village Thirthamala were presented with a vegan feast—12 energy-efficient, environmentally and climate-friendly dishes created by Sreeraj Gopinathan with 100% vegetable ingredients.
Project SAMASYA
The fragility of the environment and climate forms the nucleus of Gopinathan's second project titled SAMASYA, which began in 2016. With this project, he addresses the industrial societies, the hub of a world in transition. Based on his perspective that the aspect food plays a key role in the unity of the entire web of life, he designed an energy-reducing and resource-saving, vegan nutritional concept. In order to achieve an ample social participation for the implementation of the project, he uses a mixture of methods such as Internet publication, performance, light installation, and culinary art, which are assembled on the same stage. The project is centered around addressing fundamental human needs and intended to raise public awareness of environmental and social issues, according to the artist. Its primary goal is to actively contribute to the preservation of Earth's ecosystem.
Since 2005, Sreeraj Gopinathan has lived and worked in Berlin and in Kanthalloor, South India.
1998 Sreeraj Gopinathan – Zeichnungen, Gemälde und Fotoarbeiten 1995–1997, Annette Falk Keramik, Hofheim in Unterfranken, Bavaria
2002 Bilder, Objekte und Installationen von Sreeraj Gopinathan,[10] Schloss Bedheim, Thuringia, sponsored by Thüringer Ministerium für Bildung, Jugend und Sport[11]
2003 Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont, Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen,[12][13] Galerie des Lehr- und Forschungsinstitutes DAP e.V.,[14]Munich, Bavaria, sponsored by the City of Coburg and by the art association TARA art e.V.[15]
2000 Stipendium Junge Kunst 2000, Exhibition of selected artists,[19][20][21]Lemgo, North Rhine-Westphalia
2001 Kunstausstellung NATUR – MENSCH,[22] Exhibition of selected artists, Sankt Andreasberg, Lower Saxony
2002 Indische zeitgenössische Kunst,[23] Exhibition of Indian contemporary artists, Akademie für Gestaltung und Denkmalpflege, Ebern, Bavaria
2002 Feuer und Wasser,Kunstausstellung 2002,[24] Exhibition of selected artists, Archäologisches Museum[25] Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, Bavaria
2004 Kunstausstellung 2004, Exhibition of selected artists, Archäologisches Museum Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, Bavaria
Publications
Books
Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont[26][27][28][29][30], Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994–2002, picture book, Coburg 2003, German language, publisher: TARA art e.V.[31] art association, ISBN3-00-012899-9
Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und kosmisch zugleich,[32][33] picture book, Berlin 2014, German language publisher: TARA art e.V. art association
Internet publications
Indisch kulinarisch – umweltschonend, klimafreundlich, vegan[34]– Eine gesunde und nachhaltige Interpretation der indischen Kochkunst, Project SAMASYA, Part I – Resensitization, Berlin 2016, German language, publisher: Sreeraj Gopinathan
Magazines
L'ami (Poem and ink drawing),[35] French language, Kolkatta 2014, im Magazin Le cri de la mouche, Publisher: Alliance Française du Bengale,[36] India
Ma grand-mère (Poem and ink drawing),[37] French language, Kolkatta 2014, im Magazin Le cri de la mouche, Publisher: Alliance Française du Bengale, India
Video documentation
Interdisziplinäres Projekt SAMASYA Teil I – Resensitization,[38] Einführung von Holger Christian Stockinger,[39] German language, publisher: Sreeraj Gopinathan 2016
Literature
Margit Hess: Erlebnisräume als Sprungbrett für das Bewusstsein[40]- zum zweiten Teil des Projekts SAMASYA – Elementary. In: Website Project SAMASYA
Holger Christian Stockinger: Die Stille und das Dunkel.[41] In: Website Sreeraj Gopinathan
Margit Hess: Odyssee zur Wiege des Lebens.[42] In: Website Project OWIYAM
Nobert Kastner: Grußwort.[43] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994–2002, publisher: TARA art e.V. art association, ISBN3-00-012899-9.
Margit Hess: Im Zwielicht.[44] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und kosmisch zugleich, publisher: TARA art e.V. art association
Holger Christian Stockinger: Prolog.[45] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und kosmisch zugleich, publisher: TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein
James Sebastian: Zwischen Fülle und Leere.[46] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und kosmisch zugleich, publisher: TARA art e.V.
Holger Christian Stockinger: Resensibilisierung – Im Universum der Sinne[47]- zum ersten Teil des Projekts SAMASYA – Resensitization. In: Website Project SAMASYA
Gregor Bendel: Von der Linie zum Licht.[48] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994–2002, publisher: TARA art e.V. art association, ISBN3-00-012899-9.
Margit Hess: Suche nach dem Ungreifbaren.[49] In: Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994–2002, publisher: TARA art e.V. art association, ISBN3-00-012899-9.
Holger Christian Stockinger: Spurensuche nach den irdischen Wurzeln. In: Indisch Kulinarisch – Umweltshonend, klimafeundlich,[50] vegan, Publication in internet, Part of the Project SAMASYA
↑ Coburger Tageblatt, ed. (October 14, 2003), Künstlerische Reise ins Licht (in German), Coburg: Mediengruppe Oberfranken GmbH & Co. KG
↑ Dieter Ungelenk (October 3, 2003), Neue Presse Coburg, Tageszeitung (ed.), Die Magie der Tiefe (in German), Coburg: Druck und Verlagsanstalt Neue Presse GmbH
↑ Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Government of Kerala, ed. (December 22, 1989), "Untitled, pen and ink drawing", 19th STATE EXHIBITION OF ART 1989 (in German), Thrichur, Kerala
↑ Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Government of Kerala, ed. (December 23, 1993), "The Gaze", 23rd STATE EXHIBITION OF ART 1993 (in German), Thrichur, Kerala
↑ Lippische Landes-Zeitung, ed. (December 19, 2000), Die Mombachstraße in Styropor (in German), Detmold: Lippischer Zeitungsverlag
↑ Lippische Rundschau, ed. (December 16, 2000), Junge Kunst vor alten Maschinen präsentiert (in German), Detmold: Lippischer Zeitungsverlag
↑ Lippische Rundschau, ed. (December 16, 2000), Viele Bewerber für Kunst-Stipendium (in German), Detmold: Lippischer Zeitungsverlag
↑ "Kunstausstellung NATUR – MENSCH". Kunstausstellung NATUR – MENSCH, Kunst und Kultur National Park Harz (in German). Nationalparkverwaltung Harz.
↑ Akademie für Gestaltung und Denkmalpflege, Ebern, ed. (June 14, 2002), "Lichtkaskaden", Ausstellungskatalog, Indische zeitgenössische Kunst (in German), Ebern: Akademie für Gestaltung und Denkmalpflege, Ebern
↑ Archäologisches Museum, Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld, ed. (August 31, 2002), "ohne Titel, lichtintegriertes Objekt", Feuer und Wasser, Kunstausstellung 2002, Ausstellungskatalog (in German), Bad Königshofen im Grabfeld
↑ Holger Christian Stockinger (November 15, 2007). "Die Stille und das Dunkel". SREERAJ GOPINATHAN – Home, Offizielle Website von Sreeraj Gopinathan (in German). Sreeraj Gopinathan.
↑ Margit Hess (January 11, 2017). "Odyssee zur Wiege des Lebens". OWIYAM Chronik, Offizielle Website von Project OWIYAM (in German). Sreeraj Gopinathan.
↑ Nobert Kastner (2003), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Grußwort", Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994 – 2002 (in German), Coburg, ISBN3-00-012899-9
↑ Margit Hess (April 1, 2014), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Im Zwielicht", Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und Kosmisch Zugleich (in German) (1000ed.), Berlin
↑ Holger Christian Stockinger (April 1, 2014), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Prolog", Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und Kosmisch Zugleich (in German) (2000ed.), Berlin
↑ James Sebastian (August 16, 2014), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Zwischen Fülle und Leere", Sreeraj Gopinathan – SAMASYA – Irdisch und Kosmisch Zugleich (in German) (1000ed.), Berlin
↑ Holger Christian Stockinger (December 2, 2016). "Resensibilisierung – Im Universum der Sinne". Projekts SAMASYA – Teil I – Resensitization, Offizielle Website von Project SAMASYA (in German). Sreeraj Gopinathan.
↑ Gregor Bendel (October 13, 2003), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Von der Linie zum Licht", Sreeraj Gopinathan – Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994 – 2002 (in German) (2000ed.), Coburg
↑ Margit Hess (October 13, 2003), TARA art e.V. Kunstförderverein (ed.), "Suche nach dem Ungreifbaren", Über dem Horizont: Lichtintegrierte Objekte, Bilder, Zeichnungen und Texte 1994 – 2002 (in German) (2000ed.), Coburg
↑ Holger Christian Stockinger (March 24, 2016). "Spurensuche nach den irdischen Wurzeln". Indisch Kulinarisch – Umweltshonend, Klimafeundlich, Vegan (in German). Sreeraj gopinathan.
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