New Delhi based multi-disciplinary artist Aarrti Zaveri has carved her own niche in the field of artwork. Her diversified works of art often derive from the study of change in the topography as a result of rapid growth and modernization and reflect the impact of urbanization on our ecology. She expresses these in form of installations, sculptures, paintings, site-specific artworks and video art. Over time her artwork had been increasingly reflective and representation of what she perceives and feels while exploring various places, and situations and meeting different people. In a candid conversation with The Daily Guardian she gave insights about her artistic oeuvre. Excerpts
Q. How would you describe yourself as both a person and an artist?
A. I was born in Gujarat, one of the prosperous states in India and spent my childhood days among academicians and other family members who were inclined to art and design. I had joined the illustrious Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Baroda as an undergraduate student only to end it abruptly due to familial reasons. Throughout, I kept my creative embers stoked up till they found fruition later in Delhi as I started my studio practice in early 1990s. My graphic skills directed me initially towards making naturalist paintings which in fact had consolidated my position as an artist as I gained commissions from the Indian Army and the Government of India to do official portraits of the Martyrs who had been conferred with the topmost gallantry awards.
Q. Tell me little bit about your muse, inspiration and thought process.
A. I take a lot of inspiration from nature and the philosophies born out of nature, I tend to find the similarities between feminine creativity and the feminine attributes of nature. At the same time I also recognise the ferocious power embedded within the feminine which could any time position itself as ‘feministic’ and ‘feminine’. My works are an exploration of colours, lines, textures, layers, compositions and processes. And my recent series of paintings that use fluidity as an operative and are an outcome of the interplay between emotional and conceptual self.
Q. What are you currently working on?
A. Currently I have been working with an Italian curator on the subject of ‘reflections of change’. As an artist of the environment I have always been drawn to the idea of working with nature equipped with nothing but empty hands, wide-open mind and seeking direct inspirations from nature. Irrational and uncontrollable events like the pandemic have occurred, and have left us feeling powerless.
Q. Any Upcoming shows or workshops we should know about?
A. Since everything is online these days, I am currently hosting an online exhibition of my nature artworks. But I am also looking to do a solo show in the near future. For the past few years I have been working with the five elements of nature and looking forward to exhibiting that. But it takes a lot of time to fully be satisfied with one’s own project and make sure you have covered all the bases before it is ready to go public. I recently had one of my works of art at an exhibition at NGMA.