Benitha Perciyal - MAP Academy

ARTICLE

Benitha Perciyal (b. 1978)

Articles are written collaboratively by the EIA editors. More information on our team, their individual bios, and our approach to writing can be found on our About pages. We also welcome feedback and all articles include a bibliography (see below).

FILED UNDER

Modern & Contemporary Art

FIRST PUBLISHED

April 21, 2022

Benitha Perciyal%newline%[mapeiacarousel id=9793] A sculptor and installation artist, Benitha Perciyal is known for using organic materials to create works inspired by Christian mythology. Her work centres around the parallels between the cyclicality of nature and human life, as well as death and rejuvenation. She uses objects made with natural materials and often associated with vernacular Christian liturgical practices, derived largely from biblical figures, imagery and iconography. Perciyal was born in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. An avid reader, she was drawn to the Christian undertones and allegories in the Russian novels that she read in Tamil translation. Perciyal received a BFA, followed by an MFA (2002) in painting and printmaking from the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. Subsequently, she received a junior research grant and began working out of a studio at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai. She also began holding workshops at Forum Art Gallery. In 2015, she set up her own studio in George Town, Chennai, supported by the Amol Vadehra Art Grant (2015–16) from the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art. Most of her sculptures are perishable, since they are made from natural materials such as seeds, resin, coal, bark, reclaimed teakwood and incense powder. The materials require long periods of curing and seasoning. Perciyal uses fragrance and tactility as sensory and metaphorical elements in her work. Her installations and exhibition spaces often feature figures cast from fragrant mixes, resin-cast kolu dolls and wooden books carved from discarded teak. She introduces religious symbolism in her sculptures by highlighting signs of wear, bruising and damage — especially in figures representing the Christ and Mary — to meditate on the imperfections of the body and material impermanence in contrast to divine perfection. Notable works include her installation The Fires of Faith (2014), which was created for the 2014 Kochi-Muziris Biennale and was inspired by a broken image of the Christ in an antique shop in Mattancherry, Kochi. The work consists of sculptures cast in incense made from a mix of frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and various other spices and oils local to southern India. In another work, Naan Oru Penn, Yen Yennam Aayiram (“Me a Woman, My Thoughts a Thousand”) (2016), exhibited at the 2016 Yinchuan Biennale, her figures are shown with gourd containers, recalling the practices of her home. [mapeiacarousel id=9795] Perciyal has shown her work at Artry Gallery, Kochi (2015); Nature Morte, New Delhi (2017); and Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai (2019), among others. She was also the recipient of the Asia Arts Future Award from the Asia Society (2018). The artist is represented by Nature Morte, New Delhi, and The Noble Sage, London. As of writing, she lives and works out of George Town, Chennai.

The Fires of Faith 1; Benitha Perciyal; c. 2014; Frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, cloves, lemongrass, cedar wood, bark powder, coal and re-used wood; 86 x 122 x 44 cm; Nature Morte

A sculptor and installation artist, Benitha Perciyal is known for using organic materials to create works inspired by Christian mythology. Her work centres around the parallels between the cyclicality of nature and human life, as well as death and rejuvenation. She uses objects made with natural materials and often associated with vernacular Christian liturgical practices, derived largely from biblical figures, imagery and iconography.

Perciyal was born in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu. An avid reader, she was drawn to the Christian undertones and allegories in the Russian novels that she read in Tamil translation. Perciyal received a BFA, followed by an MFA (2002) in painting and printmaking from the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. Subsequently, she received a junior research grant and began working out of a studio at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai. She also began holding workshops at Forum Art Gallery. In 2015, she set up her own studio in George Town, Chennai, supported by the Amol Vadehra Art Grant (2015–16) from the Foundation for Indian Contemporary Art.

Most of her sculptures are perishable, since they are made from natural materials such as seeds, resin, coal, bark, reclaimed teakwood and incense powder. The materials require long periods of curing and seasoning. Perciyal uses fragrance and tactility as sensory and metaphorical elements in her work. Her installations and exhibition spaces often feature figures cast from fragrant mixes, resin-cast kolu dolls and wooden books carved from discarded teak. She introduces religious symbolism in her sculptures by highlighting signs of wear, bruising and damage — especially in figures representing the Christ and Mary — to meditate on the imperfections of the body and material impermanence in contrast to divine perfection.

Notable works include her installation The Fires of Faith (2014), which was created for the 2014 Kochi-Muziris Biennale and was inspired by a broken image of the Christ in an antique shop in Mattancherry, Kochi. The work consists of sculptures cast in incense made from a mix of frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon and various other spices and oils local to southern India. In another work, Naan Oru Penn, Yen Yennam Aayiram (“Me a Woman, My Thoughts a Thousand”) (2016), exhibited at the 2016 Yinchuan Biennale, her figures are shown with gourd containers, recalling the practices of her home.

Naan Oru Penn, Yen Yennam Aayiram (Me a Woman, My Thoughts a Thousand); Benitha Perciyal; c. 2016; Frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, cloves, lemongrass and cedar wood essential oils, gourds, sunflower seeds collected and found objects; Variable Dimensions; Nature Morte

Naan Oru Penn Yen Yennam Aayiram (Me a Woman, My Thoughts a Thousand); Benitha Perciyal; c. 2016; Frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon, cloves, lemongrass and cedar wood, essential oils, gourds, sunflower seeds collected and found objects; Variable Dimensions; Nature Morte

Why God Won't Go Away; Benitha Perciyal; Frankincense, tree gum and re-used wood; 48 x 10 x 60 cm; Nature Morte

Perciyal has shown her work at Artry Gallery, Kochi (2015); Nature Morte, New Delhi (2017); and Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai (2019), among others. She was also the recipient of the Asia Arts Future Award from the Asia Society (2018). The artist is represented by Nature Morte, New Delhi, and The Noble Sage, London.

As of writing, she lives and works out of George Town, Chennai.

Bibliography

Asia Society. “Asia Arts Game Changer Awards India.” Accessed May 20, 2021. https://asiasociety.org/india/asia-arts-game-changer-awards-india.

Balaram, Rajashree. “I Rarely Make Works with the Purpose of an Exhibition: Benitha Perciyal.” Elle India, February 27, 2020.

https://elle.in/article/sculptor-benitha-perciyal/.

Balasubramanian, Malavika. “Chennai’s Seed Hunter: A Peek into Benitha Perciyal’s Studio.” The Hindu, December 20, 2019. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/benitha-perciyal-uses-bark-powder-foraged-seeds-and-re-used-teak-in-her-installations/article30359483.ece.

D’Mello, Rosalyn. “Benitha Perciyal: Earth Girl.” Open, June 08, 2016. https://openthemagazine.com/art-culture/benithaRuss-perciyal-earth-girl/.

Google Arts & Culture. “The Fires of Faith – Benitha Perciyal.” Accessed May 20, 2021. https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-fires-of-faith-benitha-perciyal/2QEYlH6rw41Ifg?hl=en.

Kannadasan, Akila. “Once Upon a Teak Door.” The Hindu, November 11, 2019. https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/art/once-upon-a-teak-door/article29942354.ece.

Malik, Ektaa. “A Pilgrim's Progress: Benitha Perciyal’s First Solo Show in the Capital is Heavily Inspired from Her Deep Belief System.” The Indian Express, March 12, 2017. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/a-pilgrims-progress-benitha-perciyals-first-solo-show-in-the-capital-is-heavily-inspired-from-her-deep-belief-system-4567286/.

Nature Morte. “Benitha Perciyal.” Accessed May 20, 2021. https://naturemorte.com/artists/benithaperciyal/.

Ocula. “Benitha Perciyal.” Accessed May 20, 2021.

https://ocula.com/artists/benitha-perciyal/.

Pollman, Lisa. “Spice Girl: Indian Artist K. Benitha Perciyal – In Conversation.” ArtRadarJournal, November 21, 2016. https://artradarjournal.com/2016/11/21/spice-girl-indian-artist-k-benitha-perciyal-in-conversation/.

Saffronart. “Benitha Perciyal.” Accessed May 20, 2021. https://www.saffronart.com/artists/benitha-perciyal.

Singh, Amrita Gupta. “Memory, Materiality, Sediment: Benitha Perciyal.” Critical Collective. Accessed May 20, 2021.

https://criticalcollective.in/ArtistInner2.aspx?Aid=579&Eid=1269.

The New Indian Express. “Solo Art Exhibition ‘Still and Still Moving Life’ from Today,” March 27, 2015. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2015/mar/28/Solo-Art-Exhibition-still-and-still-Moving-Life-from-Today-734637.html.

Chicago	MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. “Benitha Perciyal”. Accessed March 31, 2023. https://mapacademy.io/article/benitha-perciyal/
MLA	“Benitha Perciyal.” MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. https://mapacademy.io/article/benitha-perciyal/. Accessed 31, March, 2023.
Harvard	MAP Academy Encyclopedia of Art. (2022) Benitha Perciyal. [Online]. Available at: https://mapacademy.io/article/benitha-perciyal/. (Accessed: 31, March, 2023)

ARTICLE

Benitha Perciyal (b. 1978)

Bibliography

Feedback

map_academy