Alwar Balasubramaniam: Art of substance and absence

The speaker reflects on their journey from childhood memories to becoming an artist, emphasizing the role of traces in understanding the past. They explore the concept of perception and context in art, challenging preconceptions and questioning the visible and invisible. Through various artworks, the speaker illustrates how art can capture traces, question meaning, and explore the invisible, ultimately encouraging a deeper understanding of reality.

What did the speaker's brothers help him with during his childhood?

• Playing musical instruments

• Mathematics

• Drawing and painting

• Science experiments

What did the speaker win in a drawing competition?

• A Philips radio

• A set of paints

• A bicycle

• A scholarship

What concept does the speaker explore through the idea of traces?

• The unknown

• The past

• The present

• The future

What material does the speaker use to capture the trace of a thumbprint?

• Clay

• Plaster of Paris

• Wood

• Metal

How does the speaker illustrate the role of perception in understanding art?

• By showing different paintings

• By explaining the science of light

• By discussing various interpretations of a cow crossing the road

• By comparing different musical notes

What inspired the speaker to create a sculpture using an air freshener?

• A dream

• A conversation with a friend

• Observing the transformation of solid to vapor

• A visit to an art gallery

What is the significance of the work 'Emerging Angel'?

• It represents the merging of light and dark

• It depicts the journey of a bird

• It shows the transformation of one form into another

• It captures the essence of a shadow

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of light and shadow?

• They are only seen when reflected

• They are always visible

• They are the same

• They are illusions

What does the speaker imply about human perception?

• It is limitless

• It is often inaccurate

• It is always correct

• It is irrelevant

What does the speaker mean by 'the actual journey happens between those footprints'?

• The journey is more important than the destination

• The space between footprints holds the true story

• Footprints are the only evidence of a journey

• Journeys are irrelevant without footprints