reflecting on a painting

Something I wrote last year...

I have a painting in front of me. Not on the wall, but stacked up against my other finished canvases. I keep this particular piece there so that I can look at it whenever I work in this space. It is no longer "a painting I made". It now has a personality outside of me. The painting seems to echo something from deep within. I feel a little melancholic, yet elated; both at the same time. I feel a certain limbo when I look at the painting; suspended, in a place that’s neither here nor there. (Enroute?) I stare ahead of me, in this moment of rest where all else falls away. I imagine my line of sight to be perched high up on a mountain. Something about the angle jogs a physical memory. (I sense/ smell rain.) From this vantage point, the horizon is below me, and is a wide sweep of land. As I write these words — wide sweep of land — I feel a physical sensation again. I feel cradled. Alone, yet secure. I feel the distance of a journey. Where am I going? I’m not sure. I am neither excited nor reluctant to reach. Instead I am immersed in that moment. I feel at home right there, in the middle of nowhere. 

exhibition news: continuum

Exciting news. I am happy to announce that I have two solo exhibitions coming up. Continuum features drawings, paintings and mixed media work across two exhibits - [Degrees of Separation] and [The Illusion of Edges]. The first exhibition, Continuum [Degrees of Separation], opens at Gallery Beyond (Mumbai) on September 6 and will continue until October 6. The second exhibit, Continuum [The Illusion of Edges], will be held at Carroll Community College in Westminster (MD) in Spring 2019. 

I am in Mumbai right now preparing for the show at Gallery Beyond. The opening is just a couple weeks away! Stay tuned for more information.

seed (rewind/repeat)

seed (rewind/repeat)
acrylic and water-soluble graphite on paper, 25x32", 2017

two states of being

two states of being

acrylic on canvas, 24x20", 2016

the underbelly (II)

the underbelly (II)
acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper, 24x18", 2014

the distant other

the distant other
24x18" acrylic and ink on paper, 2014 

Deep in the puddle

the heavens - 

along its ripples
one orbits 

the distant other.

the dive

the dive
acrylic and charcoal on paper, 24x18", 2015

exhibition: roll it out, ink it up

The Allegany Arts Council is hosting a show Roll It Out, Ink It Up at Saville Gallery in Cumberland (MD). The group show is a continuation of the exhibition Roll It Out!, which was part of the print symposium at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (PAAC) in November. The exhibition showcased the work of demonstrators and speakers at the symposium. The same show is now on in Cumberland with the addition of a few more artists from PAAC. I am really excited to be part of this wonderful exhibition, in which I have three monotypes on display.

I have been working on monotyoes since December, experimenting with both oil-based inks and acrylic paints. For the exhibition, I decided to show the ones made with acrylic paint. As a printmaking medium, acrylic paint is both challenging and satisfying. I like the painterly effect of acrylics, in addition to the texture and vibrant colours. On the other hand, the paint can dry too quickly while working. I plan to try acrylics with a retarder to see what results emerge. For now I am happy with the outcome, and glad that some of these experiments are part of the exhibition in Cumberland.

The opening for Roll It Out, Ink It Up is on Saturday February 6th between 6 and 8pm and is on until February 20th. Below are the details of the exhibition.

the starling paradigm

monotype, 10x8", 2016

an unfolding

monotype, 10x8", 2016

continuum

monotype, 10x8", 2016

mesa

mesa
mixed media on paper, 18x24", 2013

owt snoom

owt snoom
acrylic and chalk on paper, 24x18", 2014

The desert, the hint of dawn

Deep ink blue, dark earth

And diamonds

A great silence.

untitled

untitled
acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper, 8x8", 2015 priya vadhyar

In the desert
My eyes scanned the horizon
For the emerald waters
Within me.

exhibition, a point and line to plane xi: paintings

The exhibition 'A Point and Line to Plane XI' at Gallery Beyond in Mumbai opened today. Below are the paintings I am displaying. The first painting, titled 'The Mirror', is an acrylic painting on canvas and is 48x36 inches in size. The second, also acrylic on canvas and the same size, is called 'Once upon a Breeze, a Magpie'. The third painting, titled 'Once Upon a Breeze, a Magpie (II)', is acrylic on paper. The fourth, untitled, is acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper and is 24x18 inches in size.

As mentioned in the previous post, the exhibition features abstract paintings by nine artists. The exhibition is on at Gallery Beyond until the end of August.

the mirror
acrylic on canvas, 48x36", 2015, priya vadhyar

once upon a breeze, a magpie
acrylic on canvas, 48x36", 2015, priya vadhyar

once upon a breeze, a magpie (II)
acrylic on paper, 24x18, 2014, priya vadhyar

untitled
acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper, 24x18", 2014, priya vadhyar

exhibition: the 377191 wall

Starting May 23rd, I am going to be part of an exhibition in Mumbai. Gallery Beyond in association with Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival is hosting an exhibition titled 'The 377191 Wall: Freedom to Express, Freedom to Choose'. The exhibition postcard explains, "238 artists come together to express their solidarity with the fundamental right to freedom to speech and expression and the freedom to choose whom to love. While Article 19 (1) (a) protects the freedom to speech and expression, section 377 of the IPC is a law that criminalises same sex relationships. The group show of 279 mixed media works reflect on both these issues." 'The 377191 Wall' is about an individual's right to be who she is, to live with dignity and equality. It is about the right to express one's self without censorship. Artists and activists come together in this unique show to say that being human means being able to express oneself and love another without fear.

How awesome is it to be part of such an affirmation?

'The 377191 Wall' is a small works show. I am showing two paintings, both acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper. The exhibition opens on May 23rd at 6.30 pm and will run until June 27th. Below are the two paintings in the show and the exhibition details.  Do drop by!

still, I stand,
the wind speaks
acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper, 8x8", 2015 priya vadhyar

with a map of winds,
I traverse
acrylic and watersoluble graphite on paper, 9x9", 2015 priya vadhyar

3. 2. 1. 0.

3. 2. 1. 0.
acrylic on paper, 24x18", 2014 priya vadhyar

brink

brink
mixed media on paper, 2014, priya vadhyar

whale song

whale song,
acrylic, ink and chalk on paper, 24x18", 2014, priya vadhyar

There's a secret place,

Where the heart sings,

Whales go there too,
Always alone.

that the stars are adamant

that the stars are adamant,
acrylic on paper, 18x24", 2014 ©priya vadhyar

I have come to realise over time that when I paint, I am, essentially, travelling. I go to far off lands and see things. I see structures and mountains; sometimes a horizon and a bird in flight or rain on forgotten hills. Sometimes I can feel the breeze and am filled with wonder. It's that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you are in a new and mysterious place. As with all travel, emotions run high. Sometimes a painting is heavy with sentiment and sometimes it is light, filled with delight. I feel as though I am searching for something as I add layers of paint. Often what lies before me seems to be universal; the human condition trying to find its place in the universe. In all this travelling, I am reminded of my humanness, my insignificance and the vastness inside me.

*Notes: The title 'that the stars are adamant' comes from the poem 'A Life' by Edith Södergran.

once upon a breeze, a magpie

once upon a breeze, a magpie
acrylic on paper, 18x24", 2013 ©priya vadhyar

the sound of somewhere

Continuing with the new series, here is a piece called 'the sound of somewhere'. The medium is acrylics and water-soluble graphite on paper and the size is 18x24 inches.

the sound of somewhere, mixed media on paper, 18x24",  ©2013 priya vadhyar

exhibition: visions of hope

Hello all! I am participating in an exhibition at Columbia Art Center. 'Visions of Hope', as the show is called, celebrates the 100th birthday of James Rouse, the urban planner and philanthropist who was responsible for the creation of Columbia as a planned community. (You can read more about James Rouse here. Incidentally, he is also the maternal grandfather of actor Edward Norton.) 

My entry in the group show is an acrylic painting on canvas. The title of the piece is 'Of the Same Bliss'. 

The reception for the show is today between 6 and 8pm.

'of the same bliss', acrylic on canvas, 30x40", ©2014 priya vadhyar