Known for his rich oeuvre of politically-charged works as well as his diverse football related projects, artist Riyas Komu plans to open an international football culture club.
Hailing from Kerala and based in Mumbai, Komu prefers to do “socially relevant” paintings and is famed for football-themed installations. The artist is in talks with internationally-acclaimed football writer Simon Kuper to set up a unique art and culture hub.
“It will showcase various art forms, including paintings and films about how football has influenced and inspired society and culture,” Komu told IANS here Saturday at the Experimenter Curators’ Hub, a meeting of art curators from across the world.
“I am discussing the idea with a few people,” he said.
Komu, the brain behind several football film fests, said India is moving towards art that is more socially relevant.
However, he pointed out that there is a need for better infrastructure in the art institutes, the majority of which are in a deplorable state.
“It has gained momentum in India. More socially relevant art is being produced but at the same time the status of the art institutes is pathetic. About 95 percent of the institutes are bad. There is a need to acquire better infrastructure in these institutes,” he said.