A chat with Bengaluru’s nameless The Artist Spud, whose work has been making a buzz from busking spots to artwork galleries
Ever since Bengaluru’s Church Avenue opened its sidewalk to artistes, there was no dearth of expertise on show. Nevertheless, it was the work of The Artist Spud that caught Shreyasi Patil’s eye.
“The primary time I noticed Spud’s work on the Church Avenue Collective, I picked up fairly a number of items as I discovered his illustrative type compelling. I had no concept who he was on the time. After extra bump-ins, I simply requested him if we may do an artwork present collectively and he agreed,” says Shreyasi, a second 12 months Economics pupil at Krea College.
“I’ve seen him busking on Church Avenue — speaking to you and creating artwork out of the dialog,” she provides. His work appealed to her to such an extent that she has curated 20-odd canvases of his for ‘Perceptions,’ an exhibition.
Shreyasi occurs to be one of many few individuals within the metropolis who’ve met The Artist Spud who prefers to remain nameless.
“I spent lots of time taking a look at Banksy’s work and evaluating him to artists who’re fashionable by title, like Picasso and MF Hussain. The anonymity intrigued me and I actively determined to separate my ‘non-Spud’ life from my artwork,” says The Artist Spud, who has made Bengaluru his residence.
Why the title? “At that time, I used to be consuming loads and somebody mentioned I appeared like a potato, so I ran with it,” he chuckles.
Spud, in his early 20s, has had no formal artwork training and works with acrylic on canvas. Whereas a few of his work depict female heads in profile, Spud clarifies that not all his work painting girls. “I’m not too eager on abstracts as I imagine shapes have to be recognised. Nevertheless, it was not my intent to depict the female type, however slightly signify sure feelings.”
“Personally, I really feel girls are aesthetically extra pleasing. Or perhaps I simply can’t draw males,” he jokes.
Spud says his works painting a number of topics put collectively, with maybe a contact of the surreal. “Human feelings, emotions, mythology and fantasy fascinate me and my work is my try and sew all of them collectively in the best way I see them. I’m not attempting to push an agenda; its simply my manner of claiming, ‘I considered this. Do you additionally take into consideration this?’”
“I do know I’ve an illustrative artwork sense that doesn’t qualify as nice artwork. So when Shreyasi approached me for an artwork present, it was too good a chance to cross up.”
Spud provides that he doesn’t deny his identification. “If somebody have been to ask me if I’m The Artist Spud, I might reply within the affirmative, however in any other case I might slightly let my work communicate for itself.”
‘Perceptions’ by The Artist Spud might be on show at Vismaya Gallery, Rangoli Metro Artwork Centre from March 26 to twenty-eight. His work will also be seen on all social media @theartistspud and @perceptions_2021