Sunder Sukka (Telugu: సుందర్ సుక్క; born 18 August 1978) is an Indian artist (painter) from Mahboobnagar district of Telangana State in India. He is the son of a Golla Suddula performer. Golla Suddula performance is an art form which makes people aware of the socioeconomic, political and cultural conditions with an underlying message so that they can fight for their rights.
Sukka has had his work exhibited at numerous art galleries since 2007 and hosted his first solo show in 2014, when he exhibited 24 collections of artwork entitled 'Discourse of a People.' It took Sukka some time to host his first solo show as not many were willing to let him host one.[1]
All the paintings, whether it is the recurring figure of lambs and sheep, or men and women from the village, were taken from the personal experiences of Sukka. When asked, Sukka explained that his paintings are an attempt to capture the artist communities which are disappearing as 'things are changing in the villages.'
Sukka’s interest with art began when he was in school and found that he had a talent for drawing. His first effort was an impressively accurate drawing of Rani Rudramadevi, which impressed the Elders at home. His other early inspiration was his brother who is a signboard artist. He later did paintings of leaders and as a young school boy, made greeting cards for friends and relatives, all with great encouragement from other students and teachers.[2]
With Sukka’s interest in art continuing, he joined Bachelor of Fine Arts to pursue it seriously because objects such as lanterns, issurayyi, rolu- rokali looked interesting to him. He also enjoyed exploring extinct art forms and occupations like budaga, angalollu, gangireddulollu, kommollu, sodi chepetollu, budabudukalollu and others, in part in order to recapture art forms he witnessed growing up in his village which now are lost. In his painting 'the morning clock' the village woman is compared to the morning clock who works out her daily activities like a cock or hen.
The relationship that rural folk develop with their livestock in their daily survival etc. is a recurring theme throughout his paintings. This relation is an outcome of the society and "the socialist ideology" that he had developed over the years. Sukka's father worked as a labourer in Madhya Pradesh and thus, Sukka's work was often painted to reflect the feelings of other villagers, like his father, who had left home and their families to work as migrant labourers.
Sukka is married to Karuna Sukka and they have a daughter.[3]
Sukka received the 'Ambadas Mahurkar Award' presented by the Konaseema chitrakala parishad, Amalapuram organisation in 2007. He also received the 'Junior fellowship’ award by the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi for the year 2011-13.[4]
Sukks had his first solo show in Hyderabad in 2014. The exhibition of paintings was titled ‘Discourse of Life’ at Tamkanat Art Gallery.[5] [6]
Two man show:Sukka has also had a two man show with Karuna Sukka, his wife, in Hyderabad in 2011, displaying the painting and prints at the Shrishti Art Gallery.[7]
Group shows:
Over time, Sukka has had many shows, ranging from as early as 2007 to 2015.
2007
2012
"Art Exhibition on Bio-Diversity", organized by Department of Culture, State Gallery of Fine Arts Hyderabad, A.P.
2013
2014
2015
Sukka was also involved in various art camps from 2004 to 2015. These have been listed below.
2004
2006
2007
2012
2013
2014
2015