Sketching History of Indian Migration to Australia

The most down to earth artist one might come across in Fort Kochi as part of Kochi Muziris Biennale 2012 , Daniell Connell's sketches have become a talking point among the local crowd of Fort Kochi.

Daniel Connell is an Australian visual artist working in various locations globally. His work is in the context of an emerging movement of new collaborations concerned with allowing the advantages of the visual arts: analysis, self reflection and sensitivity  to be available to as broad a range of the wider community as possible and contribute to healthy and sustainable societies.

source : http://danielconnell.net/about-the-artist

Daniel Connell's work for the Biennale is based on Indian migration to Australia stating that it is not a recent happening and have a history of over 60-80 thousand years. Mr. Connell portrays the two  individuals one from the past who has got Indian ancestry evident on his looks  and one from new generation both who are Indians migrated to Australia. These people seen in the portraits are Mr.Connell's friends in Australia. On the left is Justin Alan Mogridge from port Augusta, South Australia and on the right is Suresh Vasudevan from Kottayam, Kerala who migrated to Australia 5 years back.

Mr. Connell wants people to be aware that this migration is not a new thing and thus Indians should feel at home in Australia.

Daniel Connell painting for a nearby cool drinks vendor as the vendor approached requesting for a help. Shot on 12-12-12 in Fort Cochin, Kerala.

"My proposal began as a collateral project but was elevated to the main listing after it continued to consistently draw large local crowds and became a successful example of local engagement ameliorating some of the alienation that the new and strange thing called a Biennale can create.

I am extremely fortunate to be here and thank and congratulate the Biennale directors Bose Krishnacharya and Riyas Chomu for their personal support for the project." 

source : http://danielconnell.net/

Daniel Connell sipping a tender coconut juice from the cool drinks shop for which he helped painting. On the background is Mr.Connell's assistant whom he recruited from Fort Cochin.

The public art work on Indian migration to Australia at one of the busiest spot near Fort Cochin beach.