Cop Shiva
Cop Shiva
Born
Shivaraju B S

1979 (age 44–45)
Bengaluru, Karnataka
OccupationVisual Artist/Photographer
Websitewww.copshiva.com

Cop Shiva[1][2][3] (born B. S. Shivaraju in 1979) is a contemporary Indian photographer and performer primarily located in Bannikuppe, near Bengaluru. He was chosen as a 2023–2024 Visiting Artist Fellow at Harvard University's Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.[4][5]

About

Cop Shiva[6][7][8] embarked on his artistic journey after becoming involved with the alternative art collective known as 1.SHANTHIROAD STUDIO/GALLERY in Bangalore. Serving as the coordinator within 1.SHANTHIROAD STUDIO/GALLERY, he established connections with both local and international photographers and artists through which he developed his personal artistic endeavors.

In 2001, he became a part of the Karnataka Police Department, an experience that influenced his chosen artistic moniker. From 2010 onward, his exclusive focus has been on his art, which manifests through photography and performance art. His creations have a platform through Gallery Sumukha[9] in Bangalore and Art Heritage Gallery in New Delhi.[10]

Practice

Cop Shiva's photographic endeavors[11][12] center on documenting the multifaceted nature of both rural and urban India.[13] His practice frequently focuses on portraiture and is characterized by a keen interest in the concept of masquerade and the various roles individuals assume within public and private spheres.[14][15] Within his body of work, one finds intimate portrayals of urban migrants, individuals with alternative sexual orientations, street performers, and other inhabitants existing at the intersection of the rapid urbanization of India and the deep-set rural community.[16] Through his art, he seeks to ennoble the individuals who dwell on society's periphery while ensuring his photos metaphorically embody the essence of contemporary times.[17]

Biography

Cop Shiva's achievements[18] encompass being awarded the 2023-2024 Visiting Artist Fellowship at Harvard University's Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute in the United States, the prestigious Sovereign Asian Art Public Award in 2023.,[19][20] and a grant from the Swedish Art Council in 2017.In 2018, he emerged as a finalist for the esteemed Harvard University Peabody Museum Robert Gardner Fellowship of Photography, established under the aegis of the Prohelvetia-Switzerland initiative. His artistic creations hold a place of pride within private collections and international museums.

Solo Exhibitions

Date Title Gallery
2019/5 "Urban Ecstasy"[21] Konstepidemin Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden.[22]
2019/4 "Being Gandhi: the Art and politics of Seeing" John B Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, university, San Diego, US
2018/12 "Blind Gold" Rote Fabrik, Zurich, Switzerland
2018/9 "Being Gandhi: the art and politics of Seeing"[23] In Lieu Art Gallery, Nashville, TN, USA.
2017/10 "Spring is warmer than the sea" Blå Stället Gallery, Angered, Sweden.
2017/9 "On Being Gandhi: The Art and Politics of Seeing"[24] Franklin Gallery, Duke University. Durham. North Carolina, US
2017/6 "Spring is warmer than the sea"[25] Konstepidemin Gallery, Gothenburg, Sweden.
2017/1 "Urban Ecstasy"[26] Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, India.
2016/8 "On Being Gandhi: The Art and Politics of Seeing".[27] The Frank Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, US
2015/2 'Impersonations Impersonating Enacting Icons, Gandhi/MGR". Apparao Gallery. Chennai, India
2014/10 "Ecstasy". Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2014/8 "G is for Gandhi". Christine Rogers RBANMS Kala Ranga. Bangalore, India.
2013/9 "My life is my message"[28][29] Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2012/5 "Face to Face". Sandhya Annaiah[30] Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, India.

Group Exhibitions

Date Title Gallery
2022/11 Indian Photo Festival[31][32] Hyderabad, India
2022/04 India Art Fair[33] Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi. India
2021/12 "Internationel Relations" Galleri Floras Rike. Gothenburg. Sweden
2021/11 "Reciprocation"[34] Ojas art Gallery & Fullbright. New Delhi, India
2021/09 "Indian storytellers"[35][36][37] Under the Mango Tree Gallery. Berlin. Germany
2021/06 "illumination" Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2020/07 "Trust"[38][39] Kansallismuseo. Helsinki Photo Festival, Finland
2019/11 "Pleasure"[40] RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2019/2 "I love MGR"[41][42] Chennai Photo Biennale. India[43][44][45]
2019/1 "Works of Conscience" Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2018/7 "Mahatma: Self or Nation?"[46][47] Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2017/12 "water + wisdom Australia India" RMIT Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
2017/10 "Art For Peace"[48] National Art Gallery. Islamabad, Pakistan.
2017/4 "Even the Godesses Have to Dress up" Ranga Shankhara. Bangalore. India
2016/12 Serendipity Arts Festival. Several Venues. Goa. India
2016/9 "Form of Devotion". Several venues. Valladolid, Madrid, Spain
2016/9 "Ways of Seeing" Art Houz Gallery. Bangalore. India
2016/8 "The Water Agora" Pondy Photo Festival. Pondicherry. India
2015/8 Art Bengaluru. Sublime Gallery. Bangalore. India
2015/7 Untitled. Lichtenberg Studios. Berlin. Germany
2015/4 "One and one make eleven" Contemporary Art from India. Kunsthaus Gallery. Langenthal, Switzerland
2015/1 India Art Fair Art Heritage Gallery. New Delhi, India
2014/12 "Retake: Galaxy of Musicians" Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Fort Kochi, India
2014/2 "Holla Mohalla. An enduring celebration". Visual Arts Gallery. India Habitat Centre. New Delhi, India.
2013/12 "Bangalore Dreams". Rangoli Metro Art Centre. Bangalore, India.
2013/9 United Art Fair New Delhi, India.
2013/7 "Homelands" British Council. Bangalore, New Delhi and Chennai. India.
2013/1 "Being Gandhi" Chobi Mela, Dhaka International photo festival, Bangladesh
2012/9 "Sethusamudram " Theertha Art Collective. Colombo, Sri Lanka
2011/8 "In search of Gandhi". Suresh Jayaram Red Dot Gallery. Colombo, Sri Lanka.
2011/10 "ARTiculate 2011" Saffron Art, London. UK
2010/8 "Behind the scene" 1 Shanthiroad studio/gallery, Bangalore. India.
2010/5 "Body/Politics" 1 Shanthiroad studio/gallery, Bangalore. India.

Residencies & Awards

Date Residency / Awards Location
2018/10-12 Pro-Helvetia Swiss Art Council[49][50] Zurich, Switzerland
2017/4-6 Iapsis- Swedish Art Grant Gothenburg, Sweden
2016/3 Finalist Robert Gardner Fellowship. Peabody Museum Harvard Univ. , USA
2016/3 29th National Contemporary Art Award (SCZCC) Hyderabad, India
2015/4 Lichtenberg Studios[51] Berlin. Germany
2014/11 Poland Embassy and Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation Kochi. India
2012/9 Theertha Artist Collective Colombo. Sri Lanka

Public Collections

Collection Location
Alkazi Foundation for the Arts New Delhi, India
Museum Fünf Kontinente Munich, Germany
Museum of Sacred Art Septon, Belgium
The Frank Museum of Art Westerville, Ohio

Selected publications

Date Publication Location
2014 Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Tobias Matern. Review, Germany
2015 Wall Street Journal, Suryapata Bhattacharya, Review[52] USA
2015 Forms of Devotion: The Spiritual in Indian Art". Sushma Bahl. Book. Niyogi Books. Belgium
2015 Tasveer Journal. Tasveer Gallery. Book. Tasveer publishing. India
2016 WOZ magazine, 15 editions series Switzerland
2016 Ebrahim Alkazi Directing Art (The Making of a Modern Indian Art World). Dr. Parul Dave-Mukherji. Book. Mapin Publishing. India
2017 Photography in India: From Archives to Contemporary Practice. Christopher Pinney. Book. Bloomsbury Publishing UK
2017 "Gandhi, Hinduism and humanity". Faisal Devji. South Asian University. India

References

  1. ↑ Manu, Gayatri (3 December 2016). "Meet Cop Shiva: Globetrotting Photographer by Day and Constable by Night". The Better India.
  2. ↑ Tripathi, Shailaja (28 February 2017). "Cop Shiva looks at Bengaluru through his lens". The Hindu.
  3. ↑ Prabhakar, Jyothi (28 February 2019). "I feel humbled that because of me, many foreigners across the world know MGR: Shivaraju PS". Times of India.
  4. ↑ "Cop Shiva • The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute". The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute.
  5. ↑ Zaman, Rana Siddiqui (20 August 2023). "A Lens for Life". News Trail.
  6. ↑ "Retake — Galaxy of Musicians". The Guftugu Collection.
  7. ↑ "Cop Shiva". Ojas Art.
  8. ↑ Krishnaswamy, Arvind. "Cop Shiva - Life Through The Lens". Bengaluru.com.
  9. ↑ "Cop Shiva". Gallery Sumukha.
  10. ↑ "Cop Shiva". ART HERITAGE.
  11. ↑ "Meet Cop Shiva, a police constable by day and photographer by night". India Today. 23 May 2018.
  12. ↑ Chandra Kumar, Sujit (11 June 2017). "A cop's shooting spree". Deccan Chronicle.
  13. ↑ "Cop Shiva". Platform-mag.com.
  14. ↑ "Colours of desire". Frontline.
  15. ↑ "Special feature: Being Gandhi, seeing Gandhi". Indianculturalforum.in. 29 January 2016.
  16. ↑ Nayar, Aashmita (28 December 2022). "An ex-constable captures colours and culture through his lens". Harper's Bazaar India.
  17. ↑ Kumar, Rahul (14 August 2020). "Expressive photographs of Cop Shiva are his tools for creating social awareness". stirworld.
  18. ↑ Tripathi, Shailaja (3 October 2013). "Extraordinary in the ordinary". The Hindu.
  19. ↑ "The 2023 Sovereign Asian Art Prize". Asian Art Prize 2023.
  20. ↑ Monalisa, Monika (6 June 2023). "Making Memories". The New Indian Express.
  21. ↑ "Urban Ecstacy - Cop Shiva". Konstepidemin.
  22. ↑ "Cop Shiva". konstepidemin.se.
  23. ↑ Baker, Melinda (4 November 2018). "Photographer examines Gandhi impersonator's impact on a changing India". The Tennessean.
  24. ↑ Thakkar, Rohini. "On Being Gandhi: The Art and Politics of Seeing". igs.duke.edu.
  25. ↑ "Cop Shiva exhibits his pictures in Sweden". Times of India. 4 June 2017.
  26. ↑ "Cop Shiva: Urban Ecstasy". MutualArt.
  27. ↑ "OPENING DOORS TO THE WORLD - ON BEING GANDHI". Digital Commons @ Otterbein. 24 August 2016.
  28. ↑ Bahl, Reenu (28 September 2013). "Camera-friendly cop on shooting spree". The Asian Age.
  29. ↑ "In a different uniform..." Deccan Herald. 1 October 2013.
  30. ↑ Velayanikal, Malavika (20 May 2012). "Art as an imitation of imitators". DNA India.
  31. ↑ Rana, Priyamvada (18 November 2022). "Indian Photo Festival: Photographers capture all walks of life at Hyderabad's longest running international photography exhibition". Indulge.
  32. ↑ "My Mother & Her Many Technicolored Sarees". Indianphotofest.com.
  33. ↑ "10 Iconic Indian Photographers". 22 September 2022.
  34. ↑ "Reciprocation: American Fulbright Artists & India Connections". MutualArt.
  35. ↑ Iyengar, Vidya (10 November 2020). "Bringing alive Bengaluru in Berlin". The New Indian Express.
  36. ↑ "Indian Storytellers Under The Mango Tree, Berlin". GalleriesNow.
  37. ↑ "Indian Storytellers - Passion and Persistence - Manoj Jain, Ranbir Kaleka, Dinesh Khanna, Amit Pasricha, Cop Shiva". photography-in.berlin.
  38. ↑ Iyengar, Vidya (6 July 2020). "Cop Shiva captures the life, dreams of migrants with 'Street As Studio'". The New Indian Express.
  39. ↑ "Helsinki photo festival – in pictures". The Guardian. 13 July 2020.
  40. ↑ "Pleasure". MutualArt.
  41. ↑ Bhura, Sneha (9 March 2019). "Lights, camera, enact". The Week.
  42. ↑ "I Love MGR (Installation View)". Google Arts & Culture.
  43. ↑ Singh, Dhiraj (28 February 2019). "Chennai Photo Biennale, in its second edition, brings to the fore many interpretations of the expanding universe of photography". The Punch Magazine.
  44. ↑ "Chennai Photo Biennale". MutualArt.
  45. ↑ "The Chennai Photo Biennale goes beyond just images – it focuses on our relationship with photography". Scroll.in.
  46. ↑ Kalra, Vandana (2 July 2019). "Revisiting Gandhi". The Indian Express.
  47. ↑ S, Jai (3 June 2019). "Mahatma: Self or Nation? Artists capture Gandhi's legacy at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi". Indulge.
  48. ↑ Nair, Rohini (26 September 2017). "Art For Peace: An exhibition in Islamabad brings together Asian artists whose works answer 'what is peace?'". FirstPost.
  49. ↑ "Swiss Arts Council".
  50. ↑ Chandrasekhar, Anand; Kern, Thomas (24 January 2019). "Cop Shiva: School dropout, street vendor, policeman and artist". swissinfo.ch.
  51. ↑ "Cop Shiva - Lichtenberg Studios". Lichtenberg Studios.
  52. ↑ Bhattacharya, Suryatapa (1 February 2015). "Emerging Artists at the India Art Fair". The Wall Street Journal.
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