Vadehra Art Gallery presents artist Tom Vattakuzhy’s solo exhibition “The Shadows of Absence” in collaboration with the Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA) and with the support of AstaGuru in Delhi from August 21st to 13th September 2025.
Curated by art historian R. Siva Kumar, the exhibition presents a layered and nuanced reading of Vattakuzhy’s oeuvre, situating it within broader art historical and cultural trajectories while preserving its deeply personal essence.
Born in Kerala, Tom Vattakuzhy’s artistic journey has spanned Santiniketan, Baroda, and several years abroad. Deeply influenced by literature, humanist thought, and social engagement, his practice is underpinned by a profound empathy. His luminous and restrained style blends the rigour of Renaissance realism with surrealist undertones and the intimate quietude of Kerala’s domestic worlds. What makes this exhibition particularly significant is its presentation of 16 major recent works, brought together for the very first time. Created largely over the past few years, these canvases—none of which have ever been shown in India—offer a rare opportunity to experience the full emotional and formal range of Vattakuzhy’s art. Their coming together invites viewers to engage deeply with his visual language, and to consider how his work speaks to both personal memory and collective history, especially within the changing social landscapes of contemporary Kerala. At a time when the role of painting is increasingly questioned in the face of conceptual and digital trends, The Shadows of Absence quietly but powerfully reaffirms the medium’s capacity to reflect, reveal, and remember. This exhibition is not only a milestone in Tom Vattakuzhy’s career, but also a moment of recognition for a practice that has long developed away from the spotlight—with conviction, care, and clarity.
Influenced by literature, humanist philosophy, and social engagement, Vattakuzhy’s practice is rooted in a deep empathy. His restrained artistic language meets the rigour of Renaissance realism with subtle surrealist undertones, infused with the intimate tranquility of Kerala’s domestic worlds.
Cover Image: Birthday. Tom Vattakuzhy. Image Courtesy: Astaguru
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