Sachin George Sebastian

Sachin George Sebastian is an Indian artist who embraces the challenge of crafting and constructing his art solely from paper.

Biography of Sachin George Sebastian

Sachin George Sebastian was born in Kanhangad, Kerala, in 1985. He is a graduate in communication design from the esteemed National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad and completed his studies in 2006. His practice with paper and pop-up books led him to participate in a residency at Khoj on The Idea of the Book in 2009. This experience marked the beginning of his career as an independent artist.

Over the years, Sachin George Sebastian has received recognition and awards for his outstanding work. In 2013, he was honored with the Young Artist Award from the Kempinski Arts Program, followed by the prestigious Emerging Artist Award by the Foundation of Indian Contemporary Art (FICA) in 2014. His artistic pursuits also took him on several artist-in-residence programs, including the Pro Helvetia artist-in-residence program at Rote Fabrik in Zurich, Switzerland, in 2015, as well as the Kempinski Arts Program in Budapest and Berlin in 2014, and a residency at BigCi in Australia in 2015. In 2020, he was a finalist for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize.

Sachin George Sebastian's artistic contributions have reached an international audience, with his works being featured at events like Abu Dhabi Art (2020, 2019), Hong Kong (2017), Sensorium (2018, 2015), Kochi–Muziris Biennale (2015), Beirut Art Fair (2014), Art Dubai (2013), and the Fondazione Pastificio Cerere & Basu Foundation for the Arts exhibition in India, Italy, and Myanmar in 2014. Additionally, he has been a part of the India Art Fair from 2012 to 2018.

Currently, the artist resides and works in Bangalore, where he continues to create his captivating artworks.

Sachin George Sebastian's art style

Sachin George Sebastian stands as a pioneer who fearlessly embraces the challenge of crafting and constructing his art solely from paper. Initially mesmerized by the geometry and magical allure of paper craft, Sachin's artistic journey has now evolved to encompass a diverse array of expressive mediums. His primary subject has been the city itself, exploring the collective history of a metropolis where stories are either told or fade quietly into oblivion.

He delves into the juxtaposition between the organic and inorganic facets of the city in his works: towering skyscrapers amid intricate flowers and representing the harmony and contrasts within the urban landscape.

Among his notable works, one that holds a special place in Sachin's heart is "Replacement," which he crafted in 2012. This piece portrays a substantial wooden pillar encircled by newspaper cutouts of people. The tree's angular and geometric form symbolizes its adaptation to fit the modern world after being felled to pave the way for urban development. This somber metaphor gains emphasis through the depiction of people around its base, all colors and contrasts much like the world itself.