Born in 1976 in Thrissur, Kerala, Martin O.C. is an entirely self taught artist. Martin’s work combines the ordinary and the fantastic; his landscapes are immediately recognizable, yet at the same time terrifyingly unnatural. The artist turns a familiar landscape into an extraterrestrial one with surprising ease. Ships believed to be sailing in calm waters, for instance, are actually surrounded by a host of unidentifiable, threatening objects. Similarly, yellow and orange hued skies filled with bizarre, descending spheres suggest a radioactive glow rather than a romantic sunset. The use of a palette dominated by shades of red only highlights the drama in the artist’s work.
Martin was recognized by the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi in 2002, and was awarded a grant by the same institution in 2005. The artist has had solo shows in Mumbai and in Kerala, including ‘a-Drift’ at Gallery Beyond, Mumbai, in 2008; 'Waiting for a New Vision' at Durbar Hall Art Centre, Kochi, in 2006; and ‘Dreams of Precautions’ at the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery, Thrissur, in 2001.
Martin O.C. has participated in State Exhibitions organized by Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Group shows in whish selected works of the artist have been displayed include ‘Representation-3’ organized by Trivia Contemporary, Trivandrum, in 2008; ‘Four Young Artists’ at Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi, in 2007; and ‘Kavalmaram’ at the Kerala Lalit Kala Akademi Gallery, Thrissur, in 2000.
The artist lives and works in Kerala.
Born
1976 Thrissur, Kerala
Education
Self Taught
Solo Shows
2011 “REFLECTIONS” Lalithakala Akademi Gallery,Thrissur
2008 ’’A DRIFT’’ gallery beyond, Mumbai
2006 Waiting for a New Vision, Contemporary Art Gallery, Kochi.
2001 Dreams of Precautions, exhibition of paintings, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Gallery, Thrissur.
2001 Exhibition of Paintings, Kalakendra, Palakkad.
1997 Exhibition of Paintings, Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Thrissur.
Group Shows
2014 Regional art exhibition, Regional centre galleries,Chennai
2011 Summer show at Cima gallery kolkata
2011 “Space untitled” David hall Cochi
2011 symbiotic punctuation, VERNISSAGE art gallery, Cochi
2010 PREVIEW Niv ARTCENTRE, New Delhi
2009 PREVIEW Gallery OED, Cochi
2008 Pastiche, Chaithanya art gallery, Cochi
2008 Representation-2, organized by Triva Contemporary,Trivandrum
2008 Asian contemporary Art Fair Newyork, participation with gallery beyond, Mumbai
2008 “Joie de Vivre” fund raiser for 2 NGO’s at Gallery Beyond, Mumbai
2008 Representation-3, organized by Triva Contemporary, Trivandrum.
2007 SOUTH BY SOUTH WEST, Travancore Art Gallery, New Delhi
2007 Four Young Artists, Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi.
2000 Kavalmaram, Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Thrissur.
1999 Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery, Kozhikode.
1997, 98, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2010,2012 Participated in the State exhibitions organized by Kerala Lalithakala Akademi.
Collections
R.P.G Group, India; Harmony Foundation, India
Award
Honorable Mention-2010, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi
Honorable Mention-2002, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi
State Award- 2012, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi
Art Workshop
2012¬_Harmony art camp, Harmony foundation, Mumbai
2011_ ‘AT WALDEN’ National Artists Camp, Organised by Gallery beyond,Mumbai.hosted by INNERSPACE at Walden,Irinjalakuda
2010 –Inter-Regional painters’ camp-conducted by L.K.A, Regional centre, Chennai
2009 _National Painters Camp-conducted by Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi at Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakam.Kerala.
2009 _National Painters Camp-conducted by Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi at Marari Beach Resort, Mararikulam, Kerala
2008 _Oberoi art camp, Oberoi hotel, Mumbai
2008 – Le Royal Meridien Mumbai Art camp-conducted by Gallery Beyond, Mumbai.
2007 – National Camp, Maldives, conducted by Gallery Art Resourse Trust, Mumbai.
2007 – Le Royal Meridien Mumbai Art camp, conducted by Gallery Beyond, Mumbai.
2004 – State Camp, Payyannur, conducted by Kerala Lalithakala Akadem
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