Vivan Sundaram’s work explores so many different mediums. I believe he builds meaningful conversations with any object he chooses and personalises it to him and his artistic practice. His works are largely concerned with social issues that affect most of us. I wonder how he manages to create a language that is so uniquely his own, even while being relatable on so many levels.

I saw his 2005 installation, 12 Bed Ward, in 2018, at a retrospective dedicated to him. It was like stepping into his mind, like you knew him intimately. At the same time, it didn’t feel like the mind of someone who was sane.

12 Bed Ward’s play of light and colour is still fresh in my mind. The lighting in the room was very dim and there were 12 iron beds laid out in it. Soles of shoes were placed in lines on top of each bed where mattresses are usually placed. The most powerful object in this installation, which I believe was a game changer, was a chair placed right in front of the bed structures.

The chair commands your attention when you first see the installation. It distracts you from the beds. When you do examine the beds and the soles, it feels like there is some intended connection between the shoe’s sole and your own soul. It’s like experiencing the discomfort of your own bed no longer being your bed.

The work also made me question whether these models were actually even beds. They don’t have the typical characteristics of beds, but they look like them. This is how beautifully and thoughtfully the medium chosen by an artist plays the lead role in the artwork.

This installation uses minimal materials, but less is definitely more in this case. I believe when the structure is less complex, it allows more space for one’s imagination to understand and even reshape the work one views. I can’t say I know the exact thought behind this installation, but that is its real beauty. Some things should be left undiscovered so you can restructure, reconsider and re-evaluate them through a personal lens.

When I first saw the installation, it made me think of the old days and the values from times past. The work really stayed with me as the world began undergoing major changes 2019 onwards. Even now, as humanity is busy with wars and atrocities, I think of this work often. In particular, I think of that chair, which to me is equally a symbol of hope and of chaos.

Even though the work doesn’t tie in with my own artistic practice, it does inspire me. I especially love the innovative use of the medium and its concept. I firmly believe that art is not just about receiving pleasure from viewing a particular work, it is also about the experience of interacting with a visual medium. It is a reflection of the person who has made it and the society we live in. And this particular work is a great example of that.

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