The Students’ Biennale exhibition Tension of Belongings delves into the layered idea of belonging within communities, presenting artworks that interrogate how identity evolves through memory, migration, and everyday life. Curated by Seethal C. P and Sudheesh Kottembram, the exhibition is on view at the BMS (Brights) Warehouse and features works by three emerging artists from Andhra Pradesh — Gorle Lokesh Kumar, Vaditha Hari Naik, and Ponduru Yogeswar Rao.
The project draws inspiration from the collective memories of a community that migrated from different parts of India to Andhra Pradesh, using art to examine the subtle frictions and harmonies of cultural assimilation.
Curator Seethal C. P explains that the exhibition’s title stems from this very interplay, “a dialogue on the tension of these belongings,” she says, referring to how the artists respond to their roots, labour practices, and lived realities.
Lokesh Kumar, a student at Andhra University’s Fine Arts Department, presents a series of three paintings centered on the bicycle — a ubiquitous and cherished tool in farming life. “My artworks reflect the farming background and the struggles and joys of farmers,” he says. His pieces, which feature decorated elements like mango leaves, lemons, and colourful rims, pay homage to how farmers express reverence for their tools during Sankranti, the harvest festival.
Vaditha Hari Naik, from Dr YSR Architecture and Fine Arts University, Kadapa, turns to an unconventional but culturally resonant medium — roti. Her acrylic paintings on flatbread, remarkably unbroken after eight months on display, evoke both sustenance and endurance. “As a Banjara member, I wanted to showcase our culture and the significance of rotis in our daily lives,” Naik notes, highlighting roti as both a symbol of resilience and identity within her community.
Fellow artist Ponduru Yogeswar Rao explores his long-standing fascination with clay, a material rooted in his personal history. His sculptures — including Mud Head, Triumph of the Labour, Broken Pot, and Togetherness — draw from childhood experiences and the traditions of pottery labour. Under the mentorship of Sandeep Machkarla, Rao deepened his practice, mastering complex ceramic processes such as glaze formulation and clay body preparation.
Together, the three artists bring diverse materials and stories into conversation, reflecting on how individuals and communities negotiate belonging in a changing cultural landscape. Tension of Belongings thus adds a compelling dimension to the Students’ Biennale, reaffirming its commitment to presenting young voices engaged in socially rooted artistic inquiry.
Cover Image: Vaditha Hair Naik’s shell work on glass and mirror, showcased as part of “Tension of Belongings,” at the BMS Warehouse | Image courtesy: Kochi Biennale foundation.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
