Talks
Unboxing the Artist Book
Ravikumar Kashi, Ramesh Kalkur and Jayasimha Chandrashekhar
What happens when a book becomes more than just a vessel for words — when it transforms into a work of art itself? Artist books do just that, blurring the lines between literature, visual art, and sculpture. They are not just books about art but artworks in their own right — where form, material, and content come together in innovative and thought-provoking ways.
In this engaging conversation, celebrated artists Ravikumar Kashi and Ramesh Kalkur sit down with Jayasimha Chandrashekhar, an Artist and Printmaker, to explore the evolving language of artist books. From handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces to conceptual works and experimental forms, they’ll discuss the creative process, the power of storytelling through visuals, and the book as an object of art. Through their insights and experiences, discover how artist books push the boundaries of traditional formats and invite readers to experience art in an intimate, tactile way.
This event is part of the ongoing exhibition at MAP, We Don’t End at Our Edges.
Bookings
Ravikumar Kashi
Ravikumar Kashi (b. 1968) is an artist, writer and educator whose practice revolves around exploring the mechanics of meaning-making. He holds a BFA in Painting from the College of Fine Arts, Bengaluru, an MFA in Printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara and a Master’s in English Literature from the University of Mysuru.
In 2001, he received the Charles Wallace India Trust Grant, which enabled him to study handmade papermaking under artist and printmaker J Parry, at the Glasgow School of Art. In 2009, he furthered his engagement with the medium, during a three-week hanji papermaking residency in Jang Ji Bang, South Korea, supported by the InKo Centre, Chennai. Since then, paper has become central to his artistic practice, incorporating handmade papers made from diverse fibres such as cotton, banana, hanji and Daphne.
Kashi has presented his work in solo exhibitions at Gallery Sumukha (Bengaluru), Pundole Art Gallery (Mumbai) and Vadehra Art Gallery (New Delhi), as well as internationally at the Glasgow School of Art, Air Gallery (London), Aicon Gallery (Palo Alto) and at exhibitions in Shanghai and Belforte del Chienti (Italy).
In addition to his visual practice, Ravikumar Kashi is a prolific writer. He has authored several books and columns and lectures extensively on visual art and culture in both Kannada and English. His book on art in Kannada, Kannele, was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015. He teaches at an architecture college in the city of Bengaluru, where he continues to live and work.
