At first glance, it looks like a bunch of wires. Upon closer inspection, the contours of the face become apparent. This is the idea behind J. Suriyamoorthy’s Imaginary Portrait of a Metal Wire Artist, one of two sculptures he is preparing for Aurae Elemental, an art exhibition in which he will present his experiments with unconventional materials and painstaking techniques, spanning 26 years. His second work, Inside the Armor, is made of a different material and creates a distinct effect: nuts and bolts assembled into the shape of a warrior.
The works may differ in appearance, but both reflect Suriyamurthy’s preference for materials that require time, precision and physical effort.
“People ask me why I use metal wire if it takes so much time,” he says. His welding shop is located in Tambaram, so he has to travel back and forth from his home in Ayanavaram while he works on the sculptures. “People ask why I put so much effort into it when there are easier ways to create art. For me, effort is part of the process.”
The wire portrait took three months to reach its final form. The idea came from a drawing: Suriyamurthy imagined a face consisting of several lines, each of which acts like a line on paper. However, instead of lying flat, the lines intersect and move through space, gradually forming a figure.
Little equipment is involved in this process. Using wire cutters, he cut, stretched and tightened the wires before weaving them together. Working continuously for even 30 minutes to an hour could cause his arms to hurt. The ponytail was particularly demanding, with individual wires cut to different lengths and shaped by hand. “The big machines weren’t used,” he says. A small skull-like structure sits at the center of the composition, helping to hold the intertwined wires together. The construction, reminiscent of making a basket, gives the sculpture stability despite the thin material. The metal has also been treated to give it an antique look.
His second sculpture began with a different challenge. Suriyamurthy was looking for an opportunity to experiment with nuts and bolts when he came up with the idea of a warrior. But before he could start welding, he had to work on the figure itself. He first made a clay model, shaping and carving out the anatomy, leaving room for nuts and bolts. The model was then used to make a plaster mold of Paris.
The choice of plaster was practical. Welding generates a significant amount of heat, and Suriyamoorthy says plaster of Paris absorbs the heat and helps keep the metal cool. Fiber, another material typically used to make larger sculptures, can pose a fire hazard under welding conditions. Nuts and bolts were welded from the inside of the sculpture. For the warrior’s hair, he used 8mm diameter metal rods, bending and shaping them before welding them into place. Making the clay model began about four months ago and welding took four days.
“I was able to finish the job in a short period of time because I made sure the clay model was perfectly shaped. This allowed me to easily weld the nuts and bolts to my specifications,” he says.
The contrast between the two sculptures also points to Suriyamurthy’s broader approach to materials. The stone remains his favorite, largely due to the difficulty of working with it. According to him, fiber is comparatively simpler, while metal and stone require more time and effort. It seems that it is this complexity, not convenience, that drives him to experiment. When he prepares two sculptures for Aurae Elemental, the material is as much a part of the work as the form it ultimately takes.
Eclectic mix of artists
Aurae Elemental, an art exhibition showcasing artists at different stages of their artistic journey, will be held from October 10 to 15, 2026 at Lalit Kala Akademi, Thousand Lights. The exhibition, which opens on October 9 at 5:30 p.m., brings together emerging artists, novices, enthusiastic students and seasoned professionals, creating a space for a variety of artistic practices.
and prospects.
The title Aurae Elemental reflects the exhibition’s emphasis on the energy and presence surrounding the artwork, as well as the raw, instinctive nature of creativity. “Aura” refers to the subtle energies associated with each work, and “Elemental” represents creativity in its pure and unrefined form. The exhibition explores how artistic expression is shaped by instinct, intuition and creative impulse.
Bringing together painters, sculptors, visual artists, designers, art educators, installation artists, digital artists and practitioners from a variety of disciplines, the exhibition presents a wide range of mediums, approaches and artistic journeys.
Published – Sep 13, 2026 08:12 EST.