Kirthana Selvaraj Ramesh and the blue figure with snake

Kirthana Selvaraj’s subject is Sri Lankan–born, Sydney-based artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, known for his bold ceramic and bronze figurative sculptures.

‘I first encountered Ramesh’s work when I saw his installation of ceramic sculptures, Mud Men, at the National Gallery of Australia in 2016. I have continued to follow his practice, feeling increasingly connected to his work in ways that I have not experienced before,’ says two-time Archibald finalist Selvaraj.

‘It really crystallised for me when I saw Avatar Towers, his installation commissioned by the Art Gallery of New South Wales in 2020. Greeting me in the front foyer, the polymorphous, bright, slippery bodies brought me to tears – deities adorning the entrance; a Tamil artist disrupting a colonial space.

‘In this painting, I have attempted to honour the humanity and sumptuous, tactile nature of his work. Having Ramesh sit within his sculpture references his neo-expressionist compositions and nods to the Hindu mythology of vahana, meaning “that which carries, that which pulls”.

‘I have painted Ramesh as I know him: a bold figure, who also settles into profound processes of introspection.’

Avatar Towers is currently on display in the North Building, lower level 2.