Sudarshan Shetty

Monuments are built in order to remember using a simple logic; they provide a physical
presence as a response to someone’s absence. As an object it is inherently futile, but the sheer
effort of construction, of carrying out the task, describes the devotion and the longing and the
missing perhaps more strongly than the monument itself. An effort has been made.

"Empty Vessel" is crafted from salvaged teak wood from the second hand markets, that may have belonged to various dismantled structures in and around Mumbai, and each piece must carry unknown stories of its past lives and the function they may have fulfilled. This work merges references to monumental architecture with a hollowed-out half-empty egg, creating a visual metaphor and perhaps an evocation that delves into themes of emptiness, futility of accumulation and its reference to an essential human need to build.

The use of reclaimed wood not only highlights the rich narrative of the city’s ever-changing landscape but also serves as a poignant reminder of what is lost when structures are dismantled. The egg, symbolizing potential and fragility, is carved to reveal an emptiness within—a reflection on the impermanence of all that we attempt to build and the existential questions surrounding our own identities.

As viewers approach the sculpture, they are invited to confront the paradox of building and creating in a world where structures may ultimately serve as mere shells of their former selves. The hollowed interior of the egg echoes the search for meaning within ourselves and our bodies, suggesting that the quest for fulfilment may often lead to an encounter with emptiness.

"Empty Vessel" serve as a meditative space, urging contemplation on the nature of self, the essence of existence, and the cyclical relationship between creation and its demise. Through this the artist invites us to reflect on our own life narratives, the edifices we build, and the philosophical questions that arise from our pursuit of meaning in an ever-evolving world.
35 years of Gallery Espace.
Memory Fields curated by Gayatri Sinha at Bikaner House

Monuments are built in order to remember using a simple logic; they provide a physical
presence as a response to someone’s absence. As an object it is inherently futile, but the sheer
effort of construction, of carrying out the task, describes the devotion and the longing and the
missing perhaps more strongly than the monument itself. An effort has been made.

“Empty Vessel” is crafted from salvaged teak wood from the second hand markets, that may have belonged to various dismantled structures in and around Mumbai, and each piece must carry unknown stories of its past lives and the function they may have fulfilled. This work merges references to monumental architecture with a hollowed-out half-empty egg, creating a visual metaphor and perhaps an evocation that delves into themes of emptiness, futility of accumulation and its reference to an essential human need to build.

The use of reclaimed wood not only highlights the rich narrative of the city’s ever-changing landscape but also serves as a poignant reminder of what is lost when structures are dismantled. The egg, symbolizing potential and fragility, is carved to reveal an emptiness within—a reflection on the impermanence of all that we attempt to build and the existential questions surrounding our own identities.

As viewers approach the sculpture, they are invited to confront the paradox of building and creating in a world where structures may ultimately serve as mere shells of their former selves. The hollowed interior of the egg echoes the search for meaning within ourselves and our bodies, suggesting that the quest for fulfilment may often lead to an encounter with emptiness.

“Empty Vessel” serve as a meditative space, urging contemplation on the nature of self, the essence of existence, and the cyclical relationship between creation and its demise. Through this the artist invites us to reflect on our own life narratives, the edifices we build, and the philosophical questions that arise from our pursuit of meaning in an ever-evolving world. 35 years of Gallery Espace