subodh kerkar sculpts oceanic odyssey with thousands of mussel shells

subodh kerkar sculpts oceanic odyssey with thousands of mussel shells
image courtesy of the artist

for the 2015 edition of sculpture by the sea in aarhus, denmark, indian artist subodh kerkar uses the ocean as an aesthetic influence, a medium and a canvass in the creation of his installation ‘oceanic odyssey’. kerkar collected and sculpted thousands of mussel shells, including green species from india and blue ones from denmark, into an undulating wave of individually placed mollusk casings. ‘I consider myself a sea artist’, kerkar says. ‘the ocean is both: inside and outside my work. the ocean is my master and my muse.’

the ocean is an aesthetic influence, a medium and a canvass
image courtesy of subodh kerkar

the vast arrangement of colorful, iridescent shells punctuate the landscape, forming a textural surface across the sand. concave openings placed in the direction of the sun allow daylight, sunset and outdoor illumination to filter through the layers of shells, casting brightly colored reflections on the surrounding rows. 

the artist collected and sculpted thousands of mussel shells
photo by ole hein petersen

green shells from india meet blue ones from denmark
image courtesy of the artist

the installation forms an undulating wave of individually placed mollusk casings
image courtesy of the artist

the arrangement of colorful, iridescent shells punctuate the landscape
image courtesy of the artist

a new textural surface is spread across the sand
image courtesy of the artist

concave openings are placed to face the direction of the sunset
image courtesy of the artist

sunset and outdoor illumination filter through the layers of shells
image courtesy of the artist

brightly colored reflections are filtered through the surrounding rows.
image courtesy of the artist