'Improvisation is integral to my painting practice. I delight in the challenge of developing
ideas while also giving scope for the painting to reveal other possibilities for exploration.
Growing up in an environment immersed in the practice of Indian classical music, extending iterations and building upon existing renditions became second nature to me. Similarly, our practices of story-telling across oral and pictorial traditions like miniatures, murals, manuscripts and patuas- revel in creating multiple versions, each with its own flavour and flourish.
However, much of our contemporary life is driven by the tendency to raise and erase
structures, communities, and histories without much consideration for preserving core
relationships either with nature or with knowledge, time, and memory. Our blinkered focus on 'becoming' denies us the 'unfolding' experience ('unbecoming' sadly carries a pejorative connotation). A crease is often perceived as a defect, a mark that disturbs the pristine flatness of a surface. This flattening further feeds a culture of homogenisation that is driven by conformity, where any deviations from the dominant narrative are devalued.
The works chosen for this exhibition present imaginary worlds unfolding as stage-props for personalised narratives. The human figures are inspired by people I have observed,
strangers whom I have caught glimpses of, or even those I have imagined from places my mind has travelled to. Images from fleeting moments sometimes create lasting impressions, urging me to revisit their evocations. People, animals, birds and trees all take on new roles in abstract settings, teasing one to create a retelling of their own stories.'
- Malavika Rajnarayan
Malavika Rajnarayan is based in Vadodara, Gujarat. She grew up in Bangalore and completed her B.F.A in painting from the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in 2003. She completed her post-graduation in painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University of Baroda in 2006.