“Sushil Kumar’s has been a long running radical voice in the realm of Performance Art in Delhi. Taking inspiration from absurdist philosophy, Sushil takes great delight in nonsense, at the same time successfully playing in the realms of our histories and memories. Claiming a subaltern position within the mainstream artist circle, Sushil Kumar lives his ideology performing in the “theater of the absurd”.
SUSHIL KUMAR
A Post Graduate in Buddhist Studies (Arts, Philosophy & History) from University of Delhi in the year 1984-85
Studied History of Arts from National Gallery of Modern Arts (New Delhi) in the year 1987
Joined research in Buddhist Arts and Philosophy but left incomplete.
Joined Law in Law Faculty, University of Delhi but dropped the idea to complete after 3 semesters in the year 1987.
Selected Projects and Participation
· Participated in number of projects, exhibitions and festivals in India and Abroad
* Artist in Residency program at KHOJ International Artists’ Association Residency for performance art, New Delhi 2006
* Over night performances on Thanks Giving Day, New Delhi 2005
* Indiafest in Germany, An Arota Art project of contemporary art of India in Germany 2001-02
* Lehmbruck Museum an Exhibition/Show of Performances, Installations and Videos 2001
* IN THE CENTER OF EYES OF ART – An International Exhibition in Poland 2000
* New Faces of Arts in Asia, an international Performance Art Festival in Poland 1999
* A project for Art FORUM in Sweden in 1992-93
* Project of an Installation on Jammu and Kashmir Highways for J&K Motors (India) in 1991
* Artist camp at Kud, Jammu and Kashmir 1991
* Installations/Performances/Presentations supported by SIDA and FORUM
* Conducted Summer Children workshop for SKP (State Council for Arts and Letters) 1988
· NAMYFEST Non-Align Movement Youth festival, New Delhi (1985)
· International Youth Festivals in former USSR, Cuba and former Czechoslovakia
· First All India Youth Festival’s Art show and Artist camp organized by State Art Council (1985)
* YMCA International youth Art Festival on the occasion of International Year for Youth (1985)
* Number of site-specific works and projects in different parts of India from 1985-91
· Participated in number of projects of ACC (Asia Cultural Council) Art’s Projects, SAC (Czechoslovakia), Japan Foundation, SIDA, Swedish Institute (Sweden), BWA (Poland), Western Front (Canada), ICCR (India Council for Cultural Relations, India)
· Locarno Video Art Festival, Turino, ‘We the primitives of the Future’ an online millennium colloquium, Italy
· WORKS are in India, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Germany, France, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Canada and Australia
Collective-Collaboration
* All Times Blues – Co directed the film for PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust), India 2002.
* MANDALA a film on video 1999
* Gift for India, New Delhi 1997
* Critical Spring an Installation for Uday Shankar Festival of contemporary art 1996 New Delhi.
* Performance at Rabindra Bhawan galleries Jan 4, 1995
* An Installation at Siri Fort for “Art-in-Exile” a project with the displaced Kashmiri’s 1993-94
Grants, Awards and Prizes
* Grant from Germany to traveled and present work in Germany 2001
* Grant by ICCR traveled Poland and Austria.1999
* Grant by Svenska Institute traveled Sweden, France Finland, Belgium and The Netherlands 1992-93
* “Hindi Academy Prize” for Poetry (State Academy for Language) 1986
* “YMCA National Youth Award” for Fine Arts in International Year for Youth 1985
* State Council for Fine Art and Letter (SKP) Award 1983
* DUWA (Delhi University Women’s Association) Prize 1981
* National Solidatory Award 1980
Others literary culture and creative activities
Associate with many cultural groups and activities.
Worked with many renowned Film and Theatre Directors
Associated with many Writer’s Association, attended many symposium, seminars and writer’s workshops including Afro-Asian young poets conference
Worked for T.V.N.F. (Television News Films)