Vivan Sundaram was born in Shimla in the year 1943. He studied at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda and at the Slade School, London. He had his first solo exhibition in New Delhi in 1966. Thereafter he has held several exhibitions and has had numerous solo exhibitions across the globe.
Sundaram is an artist who has through his art been dependable in his search of a politically sharpened art. Some of his early creations such as the series: The Heights of Macchu Picchu, The Discreet Chann of the Bourgeoisie and The Indian Emergency give voice to a immediate subjectivity. He was involved during early 1970s with the student movement and worked with activists.
His paintings of the 1980s mark reveal his involvement with a traditionally conscious. It also showed an inclination towards figurative representations as well as dealt with problems regarding identity. His works refer to social problems, popular culture, problems of perception, memory and history. Dadaism, Surrealism, Fluxus and Joseph Beuys have influenced his paintings. He lives in Delhi. He is a guest Professor at the Jamia Milia Islamia University.
Some of his Solo Exhibitions include:
1999: `Great Indian Bazaar`, Gallery Chemould, Bombay; Galerie, Foundation for Indian Artists, Amsterdam; Nature Morte, New Delhi; Sakshi Gallery, Bangalore
1998 :`Structures of Memory: Modern Bengal`, Site-specific installation at the Victoria Memorial Hall, Calcutta `House/Boat`, Muse regional de Rimouski, Quebec, Canada
1997: `House/Boat`, Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg; Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver
1996: `Memorial`, Sakshi Gallery, Melange Art and Design Centre, Bombay
1995: `The Sher-Gil Archive`, Mucsarnok, Dorottya Gallery, Budapest; The Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi; Gallery Chemould, Bombay
1994-95: `Riverscape`, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Calcutta; Sakshi Gallery, Bombay; British Council Art Gallery, New Delhi
1994: `House/Boat`, OBORO, Montreal
Some of his Group Exhibitions
1999: `Early Drawings: 1950s-1970s`, The Fine Art Company, Bombay, Illustrated catalogue
`Icons of the Millenium`, Lakeeren Art Gallery, Bombay, Illustrated catalogue
`Ligatee-The Baroda School of Art`, The Fine Art Company, Bombay, Illustrated catalogue
Nature Morte, New Delhi, Mary Place Gallery, Sydney, Australia
`Big River`, International Artists Workshop, Carribean Contemporary Arts, National Museum & Art Gallery, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Illustrated catalogue
`Volume & Form`, Singapore, Illustrated Catalogue
