ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is a mixed media practice that centers on repetitive mark making and intuitive movement visually inspired by the intricacies I see depicted in our natural world. I find the presence of shapes in an organic realm where elements collate in mysterious manners and develop its own uninhibited chemistry and identity. Using an abstract form of painting, drawing and stitching I unravel and explore seen and unseen interplay reflecting from my memories and experiences.
I use pen & ink, paint, fabric scraps and thread to create numerous meticulous marks navigating pathways on handmade paper. These emotive topographies allow my marks to reveal the movement of energies meandering around interacting with the direct and subtle forms revealing the inner narrative. The feelings of a passage of time, pausing to reflect, following footprints, discovering maps and occupying a location are visually explored through my works. Working on multiple works at the same time gives me freedom to simultaneously create at different stages in the process allowing for a dialogue between the works. My work rises out of the flat surface and explores the three-dimensional space.
These fabric scraps and thread are left behind from my late mother’s textile apparel practice. The personal meaning behind these have changed with her passing. The thoughts of what they were once, the context for which they were a part of, the experiences behind their creation, the depth of her creativity and the looming concept of legacy are feelings that I have had in the passing years. Now, I am navigating through these fragments in a fresh context, giving respect to its history but focusing on what new forms they take.
I am building a tactile visual space for an observer to travel through, consider, interact, feel and respond while forming their own understanding and narrative. My art provides as a pausing space for inner reflection. Experiencing materials with my hands gives me a sense of connection to myself and the world around me.
Biography
Aparajita Jain Mahajan is an abstract mixed-media artist. While studying at Rishi Valley School in India, she discovered her deep connection with painting and nature. In 2003, she attained her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in Film, Animation & Video. She further strengthened her visual language at the Art Students League in New York in 2007.
Aparajita has focused on her art practice while simultaneously undertaking social projects. She created animations for the Eternal Gandhi Multimedia Museum in New Delhi and assisted film maker Saeed Mirza in his tribute to Gandhi in 2004. While living in Auroville, a universal township, she taught art in an outreach village school and made a documentary about this special school.
Since 2009, Aparajita has been part of many shows, some of which include, ‘Entwined’ at Apparao Galleries, ‘Unveiled Horizons’ at Vida Heydari Contemporary (2023), ‘Between Interruptions’ at Angelica Kauffman Micro Gallery (2023), ‘Attachment; Abbreviated’ – a digital exhibition as part of ‘Taking Up Space’ initiative by the Thrive Together Network (2022), ‘Interactions’ at the India Habitat Centre (2016), and ‘The Line in Between’ at the Alliance Francoise (2012) amongst others.
In 2020, she debuted her textile work as an installation ‘Tracing Memories’ in the RISD alumni show at the India Art Fair Parallel in New Delhi. Her works were exhibited at the AD Design Fair 2023 in Mumbai, by VHC gallery and at the Terrain Biennial 2023 with Angelica Kauffman Gallery in Chicago, USA.
Aparajita lives and works in Pune, India.
EDUCATION
2003 BFA, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, USA
Film, Animation & Video
Furniture Design 1999
2007 Arts Students League, New York, USA
1996 Rishi Valley School, Andhra Pradesh, India
1998 American Embassy School, New Delhi, India
EXHIBITIONS
2024 “He/ Hem”, group show at Vida Heydari Contemporary, Pune, India
2024 “Entwined - edition 2”, group show by Apparao Galleries, at Bikanaer House, New Delhi, India
2024 “Miniatures Conjure Delights”, group show at Garrett Museum of Art, Indiana , USA
2024 “Entwined”, group show at Apparao Galleries, Chennai , India
2023 “Common Ground”, group show at Vida Heydari Contemporary, Pune, India
2023 Terrain Biennial in Chicago with at Angelica Kauffman Gallery, a micro gallery
2023 AD Design Mumbai with Vida Heydari Contemporary, Pune, India
2023 “Unveiled Horizons”, group show at Vida Heydari Contemporary, Pune, India
2023 “Between Interruptions”, at Angelica Kauffman Gallery, a micro gallery curated by
Elaine Luther – part of “Taking Up Space” initiative
2022 “Attachment Abbrieviated”, A collaboration with Kat Futardo, online exhibition
Part of Taking. Up. Space. Initiative
2020 “Building Ruins”,group show by RISD India Alumni Club, Curated by Anuj Daga
Part of India Art Fair 2020
2016 “Interactions”, Two person show at Open Palm Court, Habitat Center, New Delhi, India
2012 “The Line In Between”, Two person show at Alliance Francaise, Curated by Elizabeth Rogers
2010 “Small Format”, group show at Triveni by Apparao Gallery, New Delhi, India
2009 Paris Summer Show , By Apparao Gallery, Paris, France
2009 “Roaming Synergy”, An expatriate group show by Gallery Hasta, Hyderabad, India
2009 “A Train of Thought”, solo show, New Delhi, India
2009 “A long short cut”, A group exhibition at Gallery Hasta, Hyderabad, India
2007 Annual Group Show, Art Students League, New York, USA
RESIDENCIES
2022 The AMMAA Artist Residency 2022, “Mapping Interruptions”
ARTIST TALK/PODCASTS
2023 Platform - edition 3 by Art & Wonderment
2023 Woman Up! Series 5 Episode2 with Susan Merrick and Amy Dignam
2022 Artist/Mother Podcast by Kaylan Buteyn, Episode 114
SCREENINGS/ AWARDS
2003 Playing with Stones (patharo se Khelna), Senior Film show, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
1998 Excellence in Art, American Embassy School, New Delhi, India
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2021 Industry Mentor for Emergency Design Council,
A problem solving initiative for the covid crisis in India through Design
2021 RISD India Alumni covid-19 fundraiser, artwork and mentoring volunteer
2020 Paper, Paint & Imagination; online art classes for kids during the pandemic
2020 Creating Characters for coding workshops, in MIT open source platform Scratch
for Panchatantra Programming
2013 Creative exploration workshop with special needs children,
At Abhiprerna Foundation, Haridwar, India
2012 Exploring Art through materials from Nature, art teacher
Udavi School, a village school, Auroville, India
2012 Painting Walls of Aanganvaadis, Hospete and Kanehugodu Villages
Facilitating children and Fishermen to paint stories on walls
A Community Project by Nirmala Grama Samithi-Trasi, Karnataka, India
2011 Designed and Conducted mixed media art workshops for children from a NGO school,
Open My Mind, Dreaming Child Productions at Sanskriti Kala Kendra, New Delhi, India
2011 Programme Coordinator, India Art Fair, New Delhi, India
2009 Assisted in workshops with school children with Detlef, German Sculptor,
at the Vidya Sagar Art Center, Hyderabad, India
2008 Film on English Project in Solan “Angrezi a to z
Pratham, New Delhi, India
2007 MKlifestyle, accessories and apparel retail store, New York, USA
2006 Posters for meditation class, Isha Dhayan music Foundation, New Delhi, India
2006 Production and Personal Assistant, Ein Lall, Documentary Filmmaker
Riverbend, Nov 2005, India International Centre
And Turning, Feb 2006, Appejay Media Gallery
2005 experiments with block printing for Haveli, New Delhi, India
2005 a documentary film for, Udavi School, a village school, Auroville, India
2004 Worked for Sacred World Inc. for a permanent exhibit at The Gandhi Multimedia
Museum, Birla House, New Delhi
• Created 3 series of animations on Mahatma Gandhi from a child’s points of view.
• Assisted filmmaker Saeed Mirza on his photo montage, My Life is My Message.
PRESS
“Tiny But Mighty” by LOVER, online magazine, 16th December 2023
“…. reveal the stories of 54 artists from the city” by Dipanita Nath, Indian Express 11th October 2023
“stitches fragments of memories through her art” by Annesha George, Elle India 18th February, 2020
“Tracing Memories” by Unnati Saini, Platform Magazine, 8th February 2020
“Exploring the Interplay of Emotions” by Jayashree Narayan, Deccan Herald, 20th January 2016
“Romancing Nature” critical review by Aruna Bhowmik, The Statesman, 27th March 2009
“Whats Hot” Times of India, 27th March 2009
“The Reading Between the Lines” Hindustan Times, 11th Feb 2012
“Whats Hot” Times of India, 2nd March 2012
“Pining for a Line” The Hindu, 3rd March 2012
“At the Stroke of a Hue” The Sunday Express, 4th March 2012
“A designer and an artist” critical review by Aruna Bhowmik, The Statesman, 8th March 2012