“Epic Voyage : ‘Journey’ Series Captures the Pulse of Evolving India!”
The text outlines the artist’s extensive personal and creative journey, spanning from rural Odisha to urban Delhi, and how this trajectory has inspired their work. Titled “Journey,” the series serves as a reflection of the artist’s physical, cultural, and social transitions over time. Commencing with their upbringing in a small village, progressing through academic pursuits in Bhubaneshwar, and culminating in their Master’s studies in Delhi, the artist elucidates the profound impact of these experiences on their artistic vision.
“Pradhan values human imagination and its deep-rooted connection to the world around us. As globalization continues to blur cultural boundaries, she subtly guides society to reconnect with its roots, preserving our unique identity in a homogenizing world.”
Throughout the narrative, the artist expresses a deep-rooted connection to rural life and indigenous arts, drawing inspiration from the simplicity and poetry inherent in such environments. The juxtaposition between rural and urban landscapes, as well as the artist’s exploration of changing cultural dynamics, forms the thematic core of the series. Moreover, the text delves into the socio-economic challenges faced by tribal communities in Odisha due to rapid modernization, particularly in relation to environmental degradation and cultural erosion.
“My artistic imagination is spurred by life, by lived experiences and their gestation into something new, something evocative.”
The artist’s engagement with the Idital art form, which originates from Odisha’s tribal traditions, emerges as a central motif in their work. With over fifteen years of exploration, the artist employs Idital as a means to foreground the concerns of tribal communities and preserve their cultural heritage. By infusing the series with elements of contemporary artistic sensibility, the artist seeks to depict the intricate interplay between tradition and modernity.
“This series is my creative elucidation of my own movement from rural to urban spaces and finally to a mega metropolis.”
Beyond its thematic resonance, “Journey” also serves as a testament to the artist’s personal evolution and emotional journey. Through a diverse range of mediums and techniques, including line and dot work, embossing, and experimentation with surfaces and natural colors, the artist imbues their work with a sense of earthiness and authenticity. Ultimately, the series encapsulates not only the artist’s individual growth and creative exploration but also a broader meditation on the intersection of tradition, modernity, and personal identity in contemporary India.
“Journey is an articulation of the artist in me to creatively think about the slow destruction of traditions and the heritage of tribal cultures.”
Photos and Text © Chaitya Dhanvi Shah
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