Santosh T V

T.V. Santhosh, born in Kerala, India, 1968, obtained his graduate degree in sculpture from Kalabhavan, Santiniketan and his master’s degree in sculpture from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. His art cites histories of violence, injustices, war, terrorism and media propaganda. His art practice has stood as a strong commentary on the current social and political crisis of our lives.

Santhosh’s works have been shown widely in museums and biennales. Some of his recent museum shows include the inaugural edition of the Bengal Biennale, 2024; Kochi Biennale Pavilion, Kozhikode Beach, 2024; Contextual Cosmologies, curated by Anushka Rajendran, Bose Krishnamachari, Premjish Achari and Sujit SN, College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, 2023; Freedom and Awakening, Kolkata Centre for Creativity in collaboration with the Government of West Bengal, Kolkata, 2022–23; Lokame Tharavadu (The World is One Family), curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Kochi Biennale Foundation, 2021; forming in the pupil of an eye, curated by Sudarshan Shetty, Kochi- Muziris Biennale, 2016; The Great Game, curated by Marco Meneguzzo and Mazdak Faiznia, National Pavilion of Iran, 56th Venice Biennale, 2015; Making History, Colombo Art Biennale, 2014.

Santhosh’s select solo shows include History Lab and the Elegy of Visceral Incantations; Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, supported by The Guild, 2024; Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in collaboration with The Guild, 2023–24; Common Wall, Grosvenor Vadehra, London, 2014, in collaboration with The Guild; The Land, Nature Morte, Berlin, 2011, in collaboration with The Guild; Burning Flags, Aicon Gallery, London, 2010, in collaboration with The Guild; Blood and Spit, Jack Shainman Gallery, 2009, in collaboration with The Guild; Living with a Wound, Grosvenor Vadehra, London, 2009 in collaboration with The Guild; A Room to Pray at Avanthay Contemporary, Zurich, 2008, in collaboration with The Guild; Countdown, Nature Morte, Delhi, 2008, in collaboration with The Guild; Countdown, The Guild, Mumbai, 2008.

His art practice has been widely written about, including in three books, History Lab and the Elegy of Visceral Incantations (The Guild and Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum of Art, 2024); T. V. Santhosh: Unresolved Stories (The Guild Art Gallery, 2008) and Blood and Spit: Living with a Wound (The Guild and Jack Shainman Gallery, 2009). Other catalogues of his solo shows include One Hand Clapping/Siren, Living with a Wound, and False Promises.