THE LONE GENIUS

Even as he feels lonely in the present times of a new normal, acclaimed artist Riyas Komu challenges himself to remain alert and active through his art, says Neelam Gupta

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A master storyteller and one of the most influential artists active today, Riyas Komu began life studying literature when he actually wanted to pursue textile design. “My parents wanted me to become a doctor, but for bachelors I had to switch to English literature as I didn’t score enough for science,” says the Mumbai-based artist, curator and educationist, who as a child was obsessed with becoming a footballer. For Komu, who was born in Thrissur, Kerala, art is a medium for social commentary on the situations the world is facing today. The critically acclaimed multi-media artist, whose works depict aesthetically brilliant imagery and a strong personal narrative, believes that internal conflicts and political events offer a chance to reflect upon our own presumptions and values through which we relate to the world at large. “Good art is always true to its political times,” says Komu, who has successfully explored the shared histories and colonial encounters of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Maldives through his Young Subcontinent Project.