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Global IndianstoryRohan Solomon: How this Grammy-submitted artist tells stories musically

Indian Artists

Rohan Solomon: How this Grammy-submitted artist tells stories musically

Written by: Vikram Sharma

(December 23, 2021) Rohan Solomon could well have been a Taekwondo champ. Until 11, he was obsessed with Taekwondo. In fact, he participated and won every single state and national tournament. Rohan represented India in the junior league too, though he ended up losing in the semis to his South Korean opponent. Taekwondo then took a back seat as destiny gave him a new plan – a musical one that he has embellished and became a few Indian artists who are known globally.

When a relative taught him a few chords on the piano, it altered his career path completely. Self-taught, he not only figured out the rest of the chords, but he did so on the guitar too. By the time he turned 13 in October 1997, he had written his first song True Love about a girl he had a crush on. By 16, he was the frontman of alternative rock band Cyanide, which lasted 10 rocking years.

Rohan Solomon

That was then, but now the tune is different

Today, the 37-year-old is a singer-songwriter-composer-vocal coach and audio engineer. “I also have an MBA degree, and it feels good to have a degree to fall back on. I am also a huge squash enthusiast,” chuckles Rohan Solomon, in an exclusive interview with Global Indian. He is among few Indian artists and a global chart-topper is on a musical high after he got a Grammy submission for his much-talked-about release in 2021, We Demand Change — which led the song straight to the top 5 and top 20 spots on international radio charts.

Born and brought up in New Delhi, Rohan listened to Michael Jackson and The Beatles, later it was Bryan Adams and Michael Learns to Rock, and much later Savage Garden, Hanson, Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls. His music evolved, and Solomon’s taste steered towards rock with greats like Metallica, Guns N Roses, Nirvana, Iron Maiden, Megadeth on his play list.

The 10 years with Cyanide saw Rohan tour across the country playing at The Great Indian Rock Festival, Eastwind Festival and NH7 Weekender. Cyanide was also featured on the reality TV show Channel V Launchpad in 2007. This was also the time he explored solo with his debut album Lead The Way (2009).

Rohan Solomon

Cyanide, which released 2 EPs and a full-length album Sugarcoated, saw huge success. The signature crunching guitar riffs and pop chorus giving the band a solid, melodic and powerful sound. When the members parted in 2012, this erstwhile frontman of Cyanide moved to New York to study audio engineering. While doing his Recording Connection masters programme, he got placed at Engine Room Audio where he picked up the nuances of production. “It’s not easy being an audio engineer in New York city. The hustle is real. You have to be fast and on point or else one of the 20 people waiting in line will take your place,” recalls the Delhi University alumni who went from student to production manager and senior engineer in just three years.

The riff, they keep coming

In 2015, Rohan released his second solo album Moving On produced in Nashville, USA by renowned musician Scott Moffatt. “The first single from this album Dream Girl also released worldwide, and was an instant hit on the radio,” smiles Solomon, who did his BBA and MBA from IIPM in Delhi.

His learning curve was immense. “Just the calibre of people whom I learned from (in the US) was amazing. Mark Christensen, J Chris Griffin and Michael Brauer – it was something you can only dream of,” shares Solomon, who had also started a band with Indian artists in New York, By Chance, and released a trilogy of songs. After a four-year US stint where he had the opportunity to work as assistant engineer with John Legend, Toni Braxton, Immortal Technique and Anderson Paak, with whom he incidentally has worked on a Grammy-winning song Bubblin, Solomon moved back to Delhi to set up his own home studio.

The year 2019 saw him compose a trilogy — Blue Sky, Hard to Breathe and Time, 2020 as the pandemic led to Keep Holding On, Victoria’s Secret and Without a Trace. “Covid affected the live music scene. It became hard for gigging musicians to get out and make money. But it certainly increased the number of singles released,” he adds.

Rohan Solomon

His song We Demand Change which came out this year was produced over a couple of weeks among other songs of Indian artists. “It takes time and works to produce a song, especially since I am the one performing. I had the basic structure worked out on an acoustic guitar but I was not able to find the right voicing with the standard guitar tunings so I had to choose a different tuning called DADGAD, which just fit the emotion of the song so well,” Rohan explains of his musicology.

One of the striking features of this track was the use of stomps, claps, gunshots, and breaking glass instead of the traditional drums, pieced together to form the beat. Rohan, who is an NBA fan, juggles many roles – singer-songwriter, composer, vocal coach, and audio engineer. “The saving grace is that I genuinely enjoy each process, so it comes naturally to me,” says the self-confessed Star Wars and Harry Potter fan. His creativity lies in going by the feel of the music. “Is the song telling a story that I want it to tell and is it plucking at the correct heartstrings, is it communicating the emotion that I want it to communicate — that matters to me,” informs Rohan.

Looking forward to going back to New York for a few months to work on some projects, Solomon has some new strains up his creative sleeve now. “There is an album set to come out in 2022. Some singles (already released) Victoria’s Secret and Set Me Free will be a part of it. I wonder who can tell me what the vibe or sound will be after they listen to both the tracks (DM on Instagram @rohansolomon and there might be some goodies for Christmas for the winners). The talented musician is open to trying different genres as long as he feels the vibe,” says Rohan, who is a fan of Sara Bareilles and Ed Sheeran. He is currently in talks with a few singers & Indian artists for collaboration. His musical journey has taught him to, “Chase happiness, not money. If you are great at doing what you love, money will follow. Trust me on this,” insists the musician, adding that the pandemic has shown him that, “it’s your own mental health and happiness that is important.”

Rohan Solomon

ON HIS GRAMMY-WINNING TRACK

I was the assistant engineer on that track. Honestly, I got very lucky. I wasn’t even on shift that day. Vinnie Pagano (the recording engineer) was on a shift and asked me to come in and help him because it was Anderson Paak and he needed help. There was a load of troubleshooting before the artist reached the studio. Once everything was set up, I was around in case Vinnie needed help – changing a faulty cable, swapping a microphone, getting a cuppa, running pro tools. We were lucky that the song won a Grammy.

“IT’S CHRISTMAS”

Rohan has released a cinematic Christmas song It’s Christmas aimed at cheering up people during this pandemic. The song has been pre-released on global radio platforms in a few countries including the US, Canada, Mexico, and a few in Europe. It was released in India before its worldwide digital release on December 9, 2021, on all major streaming platforms. “It will make you want to get up and dance next to the Christmas tree with a glass of eggnog in one hand and a Christmas cake in the other,” smiles Rohan.

Rohan Solomon

ONLINE SCHOOL

Rohan along with other Indian artists also runs an online school for music production and audio engineering – Synergy Audio Productions. “I am producing some really good artists. My stint in New York helped me become a good teacher and mentor. I definitely put a part of my soul in everything I produce,” signs off the musician who is busy with regular online classes for his students.

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Published on 23, Dec 2021

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From scientific labs to artistic canvas: Rahul Mitra’s multifaceted journey

(April 23, 2024) There is an all-pervasive energy that abounds when 56-year-old Rahul Mitra speaks. It is little wonder that the Hyderabad-born and Houston-based artist is also a scientist and award-winning writer. The multi-faceted professional helped develop therapeutics for ovarian cancer that are now in clinical trials, and as an artist, uses visual language drawn from his experience to interpret personal and socio-political dialogues - exploring various facets of life from love to technology. Working across different media, from oils and acrylics to figurative art and installations, he focuses on studying the underbelly of global cultures. [caption id="attachment_50883" align="aligncenter" width="618"] Rahul Mitra[/caption] His work has been widely exhibited across the world, including the First Printmaking Triennial of ULUS in Serbia, the Texas Biennial, the India Art Fair, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, the Portland Museum of Art, and the Centre Pompidou, amongst others. Visually striking with bold colors and with themes that are universal in nature, the artist’s work is appealing both visually and cerebrally. Shaped by early experiences Growing up in Hyderabad in the 1970s, Rahul Mitra was deeply influenced by his surroundings. Always interested in drawing and sketching, he remembers art and culture as an integral part of

cerebrally.

Shaped by early experiences

Growing up in Hyderabad in the 1970s, Rahul Mitra was deeply influenced by his surroundings. Always interested in drawing and sketching, he remembers art and culture as an integral part of life. From classical musicians playing in the streets where everyone assembled in the evenings, burra kathas in the neighborhood, and screenings of mythological films via projectors in temples, he was shaped very early by art.

“Culture back then was simply on the street and literally all around you,” recalls the Global Indian and adds, “Most calendar art was influenced by religious texts, and it was a simpler time when most people did not have much money (it was socialist India after all), but the quality of life was much better.”

What cemented his interest further was the legendary Hyderabad artist Surya Prakash’s studio, which he used to visit. “He was my friend (now the filmmaker) Nagesh Kukunoor’s neighbor in our colony, and I used to go see his works. He used to spread them on the floor, making it an impressive sight,” he recalls.

Opportunity came early on via an unexpected source. His teacher, on noticing his impressive drawings, recommended that he illustrate a book in the NCERT curriculum, and his mentor then was a teacher who worked in the local school. The artist smiles and says, “I used to go to the school after hours where my art teacher used to work in the corridors, and it was a sight to behold, with the entire area drenched in color. I still remember using water colors to work with, which is a difficult medium at best.”

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Hyderabad was then a small, sleepy, and green city that shaped the young artist’s mind. Another memorable experience was traveling on trains and observing people and society, which left an indelible mark on his consciousness. The artist recalls going to Vijayawada frequently, even as a teenager, as his father owned a printing press in the town and was amazed by the statues of Lenin and Stalin that were at street corners, which gave him a world view very early on.

It was this outlook that fed his mind and soul, as well as his art. Mitra’s work is deeply influenced by socio-political issues he witnessed in his childhood, including the disparities between the rich and poor, the macro- and micro-issues that society faces, and dual identities; all of this still forms the crux of his inspiration.

The flight to United States

Fate, however, had different plans for him, as he went to the US in 1990 (after studying at IIT Roorkee) and pursued his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Maine before working as a scientist. He held various posts of distinction, including that of Director of the non-coding RNA Cancer Center at the prestigious MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, USA, where he helped develop therapeutics for ovarian cancer that are now in clinical trials.

Life in the US in the early 1990s was exciting for the scientist turned artist. He shares, “I was so excited to see a new culture. Yes, food was difficult, but I was resourceful and started cooking. There were fewer Indians, and in Maine, I was considered exotic, but life was fun.”

Even in all those busy years, Mitra never really gave up painting. Juggling a marriage and a high-pressure job was not easy, but he did it. “I’m wired that way. I sleep only for three-four hours, so it never seemed like I had a long day. I always appreciated my work—be it looking for ink for my fountain pen or meeting an artist—everything I do, I do it with passion,” he smiles.

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From the scientific to the artistic world

It was this passion that, in 2008, made Rahul Mitra return to art after a visit to the Venice Biennale inspired him. His first show, Dialogues of Civilization, held at G Gallery in Houston, was very well received and ensured that he never looked back. What the artist achieved through his work was to showcase the disparities that are prevalent in all societies, from the caste system in India to racial injustice in the West. It is this raw energy that makes one think while viewing his art.

“I want my art to raise questions and implore people to look within. There are many things that go undocumented in history. My aim is to focus on issues like those that are uncomfortable and compel us to look around us. I’m influenced by early European art but viewed with the lens of my Telangana roots,” he states.

His current show, The Elephant in the Room, in acrylic and oils, showcases elements of Hyderabad juxtaposed against the issues it faces. From autos to arches of religious structures to issues of colonialism and modernization, they provoke the viewer to think. Deeply metaphorical, his work captures the issues modern societies grapple with, from lopsided urban development to gender disparities.

[caption id="attachment_50884" align="aligncenter" width="800"] One of Rahul Mitra's works[/caption]

His visual vocabulary is unique, as is his process of work. He first makes rough sketches of his work before using digital collages to get an impression of what the finished art looks like before he executes his vision on the canvas. Also passionate about public installations, the artist has worked on multiple projects using materials as simple as cartons and wood, creating deeply impactful works, which Rahul Mitra calls the Box City.

Love for India and its heritage

In all things creative, including writing, the author has never let his roots in India fade away. They form his constant muse and forever inspiration.

As someone who has been based out of the US for over three decades, how has life changed for Indians in the country? He smiles. “After the internet took off, I think Indians are looked at with much respect. Most Indians are highly educated and contribute actively to society.”

How much has changed for Indians pursuing the American dream from the 90s to now? He ponders before answering with a laugh, “Technology has revolutionized life. Back then, I used to pay three dollars to call for a minute. Now, it's free, so younger students can feel closer to their parents. It reminds me of the old movies when magicians could see people in the mirrors at the chant of a mantra, just that the iPhone has replaced the mirror.”

[caption id="attachment_50885" align="aligncenter" width="626"] Rahul Mitra with his family[/caption]

With a lawyer wife Mini Kapoor and artistically inclined children Anika (who works with Deloitte in New York) and Manav (who has just finished high school), the artist is in a happy space. For someone who loves traveling, cooking, and collecting comics with his family, his next goal is all ready—to find a publisher for his manuscript!

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Reading Time: 5 mins

From Khagaul’s railway barracks to global art fairs: How Subodh Gupta became a leading contemporary artist

(October 21, 2021) Every Indian household has had its brush with stainless steel pots, pans and buckets. But not many see these everyday objects as pieces of art, unless you are Subodh Gupta. An Indian artist who has become a global name, thanks to his love for stainless steel objects. His installations have grabbed the attention of art lovers across the world, making him a name to reckon with. It's through these steel objects that he reminisces a childhood spent in a small town of Bihar. Coming from a humble background, Gupta had to learn and unlearn a lot to become the artist that he's now. From studying in a remote village to having his work exhibited at some of the biggest art shows in the world, Gupta's journey is inspiring. From wannabe actor to a painter Born in the small town of Khagaul in Bihar in 1964 to a railway guard father and a homemaker mother, Gupta grew up in the railway colony. It was a common notion that boys who lived there ended up working there. But Gupta had other plans, he wanted to outdo himself and everyone. So when his mother took him to watch theater on

her plans, he wanted to outdo himself and everyone. So when his mother took him to watch theater on the other side of the railway, he instantly fell in love with the world of acting and was keen to pursue it as a career. However, after his father's death, his mother, who came from a farming family, sent him to live with his uncle in a remote village. "Not a single school kid wore shoes, and there was no road to go to school. Sometimes we stopped in the field and we sat down and ate green chickpeas before we went to school," the Indian artist said in an interview.

But the dream of making it big as an actor kept simmering in his heart. So, after school Gupta joined a theater group in Khagaul where for a brief period he worked as an actor. The youngster had always had a creative streak and even designed the posters to advertise the plays he acted in. It is what led to him discovering his talent for painting; he eventually enrolled at the College of Arts and Crafts, Patna, in 1983. He chose to study painting as he wanted to be his own set director, actor, and designer. His mother wanted him to have a stable job; but he instead chose to work part-time as an illustrator at a newspaper to make meets end.

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While Gupta was keen to study art in college, the lack of infrastructure back then left him feeling lost. "Can you imagine the library of an art college forever locked? I just felt so lost when I passed out of the college. Had there been proper infrastructure in the college, I feel I wouldn’t have had to experience the same kind of struggle. I don’t want any art student to suffer because of such things but even if one doesn’t have access to resources, a student always has the freedom to think, the freedom to create and express. I had that drive to make a good painting and this was the discovery I made. You know, to discover the drive in you is another challenge," the Indian artist told The Hindu in an interview.

Finding himself and his path

In 1993, Gupta moved to Delhi as a struggling artist. It was here that he met his wife, UK-based Bharti Kher, who changed his perspective about himself and his art. She has been a key influence in his life, constantly nudging him to hone his craft and find his own creative style. Though painting was his primary specialization, Gupta began to explore a variety of disciplines and media like interactive art, video and photography, installations, and sculptures. But it was his use of everyday objects like stainless steel utensils that became his unique identity. He saw art in pots and pans, a dialogue, a poem as it was a way to relive his childhood. "All these things were part of the way I grew up. They are used in the rituals and ceremonies that were part of my childhood. Indians either remember them from their youth, or they want to remember them," he told The Guardian.

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Journey to global stardom

Just three years after his first installation in 1996, the Indian artist found his work being exhibited at the prestigious Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale in Japan and at the Gwangju Beinnale in South Korea in 2000. This international exposure was a turning point in Gupta's career. He was invited to display his work across the world. Around the same time, he began his association with Khoj Studios, an organization that promotes young artists and experimental work. This alliance turned out to be another milestone. His next few shows at Frieze Art Fair and Art Basel made people sit up and take notice of his craft that transformed seemingly mundane items into works of art. A few years later, Gupta produced one of his most prominent installations, Very Hungry God — a one-tonne skull crafted out of aluminum pots and pans that found itself at the Venice Biennale, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and in a Parisian church. In 2006, French billionaire and art collector Francois Pinault bought the sculpture after one of his curators spotted it in a show at Paris's Eglise Saint-Bernard Church. This truly put Gupta on the global stage.

[caption id="attachment_13640" align="aligncenter" width="678"] Indian artists | Subodh Gupta - Indian Contemporary Artist | Global Indian Subodh Gupta's Very Hungry God at Paris.[/caption]

The ease with which Gupta makes art out of everyday objects is what makes his work unique and popular among art lovers. Over the last few decades, his art has travelled across the globe. If Line of Control (2008), a mushroom cloud constructed out of pots and pans, was shown at the Tate Britain in 2009, his Banyan Tree (2014), a life-size sculpture made from stainless steel, has found a permanent home in Delhi's National Gallery of Modern Art.

This Global Indian's popularity in the world of art skyrocketed after a record breaking sale at the Saffron Art auction in 2008, when a painting featuring images of tin cans and pots fetched $1.4 million. Not just this, in 2007, the ArtReview Power 100 list included him as one of the three most powerful figures in Indian contemporary art. Known to be a prominent name in the world of art, Gupta's work is a beautiful amalgamation of heritage and craft and it is this eccentricity that makes the Indian artist stand out.

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Art in her heart: Gunjan Gupta is making India proud globally

(March 05, 2024) With a 20-year journey in design that started in London, Gunjan Gupta is an artist and designer of products and spaces and the owner and founder of Studio Wrap and Ikkis. She has showcased her iconic designs at leading design fairs like Design Miami, Art Basel, Fuorisalone Milan, and Design Days Dubai, among others. Tale of two cities Gupta grew up in Bombay, and her earliest influence was her mom's kitchen, as her home was always full of guests and food. As a young kid, she enjoyed the clutter in the kitchen. “Bombay is very fast-paced, and its urban reality has always been an inspiration; it's how the streets function in Bombay and the ingenuity of how people utilise various elements of daily living that were always fascinating for me and a true inspiration. I then married and moved to Delhi - the city sharply contrasted to Bombay. And it inspired me in another way - and my design practice is, in a way, a tale of these two cities - Bombay and Delhi. I studied in St Xaviers. I wanted to be a journalist, but then I studied Interior Design, and of course, my journey took

re always fascinating for me and a true inspiration. I then married and moved to Delhi - the city sharply contrasted to Bombay. And it inspired me in another way - and my design practice is, in a way, a tale of these two cities - Bombay and Delhi. I studied in St Xaviers. I wanted to be a journalist, but then I studied Interior Design, and of course, my journey took a different direction,” the Global Indian reminisces.

A path well-trodden

Gupta started by researching Indian design history and crafts, which started with her questioning the lack of representation of Indian design internationally. She seeks to alter this narrative with her designs showcased at leading design fairs such as Fuorisalone in Milan, Design Miami, Art Basel, and Design Days Dubai. Global art collectors, including celebrities, institutional heads, and design critics, have sourced her work.

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“My work aspires to blur the boundaries between art and design. My work has been exhibited at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan and the Kochi Art and Venice Architecture Biennales in 2016. I have also taken up curatorial roles at the India design exhibition at Revelations Fine Craft Biennial (Paris, 2019) and Experimental Design Biennale (Lisbon, 2009),” she explains.

Study in Contrasts

Her creative endeavours are evident in pieces found within GG Collectibles, which skillfully navigate India's cultural complexities. These creations explore the juxtaposition of master craftsmanship and jugaad, spanning various materials and forms, including furniture, jewellery, photography, and wall art. They comprise conceptual objects in a signature vocabulary of materials, crafting techniques, and unique narratives.

Art | Gunjan Gupta | Global Indian

“The piece ingeniously combines artistry with functionality, making them international quality aspirational artworks rooted in Indian culture and tradition. Using a distinctive, playful style through a research-based approach to material innovation, these pieces showcase an innovative re-imagination of India's handmade and craft traditions, while staying true to its aesthetic legacies,” she explains.

Designs on Décor

Studio Wrap is a New Delhi-based luxury interiors, furniture, and product design studio that conceptually looks at how wrapping imbues any object or space with a new identity and set of values named after an obsolete Indian craft. Ikkis emerged as a design brand, debuting at Maison et Objet in Paris in 2019. Unveiling an iconic collection tailored for 21st-century living, Ikkis presented 21 meticulously crafted objects from its unlimited series, redefining contemporary design with innovation and elegance.

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Her creative pursuits intertwine the realms of luxury interiors and collectible design, underscored by a steadfast commitment to advocating for craftsmanship and democratising design through a research-driven approach. In addition to serving as the visionary force behind Studio Wrap, a prominent interior and furniture design studio based in New Delhi, Gunjan Gupta is also the founder of IKKIS, a product design brand. At IKKIS, classical forms are reimagined as contemporary design pieces tailored for modern homes. Gunjan articulates her creative philosophy: "My practice delves into cultural paradoxes, challenging assumptions surrounding Indian societal constructs and exploring the interplay between master craftsmanship and jugaad."

French Connection

As a jury member, Gupta was invited to the 2022 Elysee Palace Paris - Le French Design 100. It was a global panel - from Tim Marlow of the Design Museum in London to Designer and Architect Philippe Starck. “We were invited by the president of France and his wife on account of the announcement of the winners. It was a highlight of my experience given the ‘who’s-who’ of design being flown in from different parts of the world - from Argentina to Singapore. It was an opportunity of a lifetime - to be in this historic palace that was the residence of the President of France and his wife. It is interesting to see how the First Family of France is so deeply involved in design - how the First Lady has used design within the historic palace,” she says.

Block by Block

She says the best way to address challenges in a design career is to be persistent. "I began my career by striving forth a narrative leveraging the knowledge of contemporary design in India encompasses. I kept going, stayed true to my vision, and kept the design vocabulary intact. A long-term commitment was made to the practice. And this persistence and perseverance in one's vision have genuinely paid off rich dividends," she explains. As a creative person, she says there is little difference between being free and working time and that the boundaries between these are blurry.

Art | Gunjan Gupta | Global Indian

"Free time is your work time also. It is the time you probably think about things; you are not working on a timeline, deadline, or project – you are probably watching TV or listening to music, but you are always thinking and ideating." With a thriving collectible design practice, she is launching Ikkis in Milan this year with Maria Cristina Didero. She has several ongoing interior design projects in the pipeline as well.

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Germany-based artist, Rituparna Rana is retelling the stories of South Asian migrants

(January 25, 2023) The stories of families displaced during the partition of India, while not new, are often unheard of and forgotten. For decades now, there has been a lack of visibility and representation - especially of those who migrated from East Bengal to India in 1947. Working towards bringing the stories of these families forward is a young Indian scholar, Rituparna Rana, who is currently doing Ph.D. in Migration Studies at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. A well-known artist, she is also a Marie Curie Fellow affiliated with Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier III, France, and Freie Universität in the MOVES European Joint Doctorate. "The stories of families who moved from various parts of East Bengal to India are completely forgotten, however, they hold immense historic value. Coming from a Bengali family, these are the stories that I grew up with. I have realised that even though there exists an ample amount of secondary material and scholarship about these families, we still lack a larger repository of primary materials and the contemporary understanding of partition from the second and third generation of migrants. And I wanted the world to know about it," shares Rituparna, as she connects with Global Indian

cholarship about these families, we still lack a larger repository of primary materials and the contemporary understanding of partition from the second and third generation of migrants. And I wanted the world to know about it," shares Rituparna, as she connects with Global Indian from Germany.

Currently busy establishing a virtual migration museum through her initiative, 'The South-Asian Migrant Identity: Narratives, Spaces, and Constructs, which is a research and creative collaborative of the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Minnesota, Rituparna is dedicated to bringing forth the stories of the migrant communities of South Asia. "The virtual museum focuses on building a multimedia platform to record the different kinds of research happening on South Asian migrations, by South Asian scholars, academicians, and artists," she explains. The virtual museum is planned to be launched at the beginning of Spring 2023.

Seeded in history

Growing up in Chittaranjan Park, New Delhi, the stories of India's partition and displaced families were an innate part of the artist's childhood. "I grew up in an East Bengal refugee colony in Delhi. My father was a government official and we used to live with another family who were first generation migrants from East Bengal. These stories had a huge influence on me and eventually, that also had an impact on my career choice," explains the artist.

Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian

With a deep interest in the narratives and traditions of story-telling, Rituparna pursued her graduation in English Literature from Delhi University. "My Master’s research, which I did from IIT Gandhinagar, was on the literary representation of women in several short stories and how they responded and reacted to the social turmoil of both the pre-partition years and after the India-East Pakistan border-line was drawn."

Around the same time, the artist also trained as an Oral Historian with the 1947 Partition Archive, California, and collected over 50 actual oral accounts of the migrants who witnessed the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition. "We all know the story of India's partition, and while much has been talked about it, the first-person account of people who have survived the tumultuous time has always been missing. These personal interactions with narratives of partition helped me to structure my Doctoral research," she shares.

Retelling forgotten stories

In 2021, Rituparna moved to Germany to pursue her doctorate in migration studies. An Early Stage Researcher at the Freie Universität Berlin, the artist's research is focussed on the nationalistic narrative of the event where there has been an attempt to construct a holistic historical narrative of the 1947 Partition rather than studying how it affected the grassroots levels.

[caption id="attachment_34348" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian Rituparna (centre) while filming a documentary on the Indo-Pak partition migrants[/caption]

"With the turn of the 1990s, where alternative histories made some space in the academics, the focus shifted to oral histories and scholars began to record the narratives of first-generation partition migrants. However, I have shifted my focus to recording the narratives of second and third-generation partition migrants to study intergenerational trauma which travels through oral narratives, memories, and nostalgia. I aim to understand how the concept of ‘home’ and the ‘sense of belonging’ transforms from one generation to the other," she shares.

It was during her research that she became inspired to showcase the work of distinguished academicians and artists carrying the South Asian identity on one single platform. A collaborative space where contemporary researchers, scholars, and artists from South Asia are introducing their works using diverse modes of expression, the exhibition is funded by the Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Minnesota.

Artist | Rituparna Rana | Global Indian

"The purpose of this exhibition is to provide an overview of the academic, creative and artistic work that is being produced by South Asians on different historical, political, social, cultural, and economic discourses that affect South-Asian migrations throughout history and as well as contemporary times, shares the artist, adding, "A short piece on the individual narratives of a few immigrant children from South Asia residing in Europe and the USA is also a section of the virtual museum."

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Artist TK Sarasvathy creates hyper realistic paintings celebrating Indian cuisine

(August 21, 2023) When you are digging into delicious idlis, did you realize that they have hundreds of tiny holes in them? Or when you are relishing a crisp dosa does it strike your mind that it has more than 5000 infinitesimally tiny holes that give it structure and form? Imagine a self-taught artist spending hours and days painting these daily Indian foods onto canvases and transforming them into life-like art works? Hyper realism is the forte of artist TK Sarasvathy who lived across countries and places – she was born in Puducherry and lived in UAE and Singapore before leaving for the US in 2017 and she excels at re-creating Indian foods as part of her oeuvre. [caption id="attachment_43959" align="aligncenter" width="541"] Artist TK Sarasvathy.[/caption] She started dabbling with art in 2008 when a visit to the Louvre museum in Paris triggered a passion for art and has never looked back since. The artist specializes in creating hyper realistic images of art on canvasses and her last solo exhibition at the Foley Gallery in Manhattan. Bhojan, showcased Indian food depicted in a hyperreal style to much acclaim. Hooked To Hyper Realism Drawing and scribbling on paper using pencil were always

rt on canvasses and her last solo exhibition at the Foley Gallery in Manhattan. Bhojan, showcased Indian food depicted in a hyperreal style to much acclaim.

Hooked To Hyper Realism

Drawing and scribbling on paper using pencil were always of interest to Sarasvathy but, she never took it seriously. Once, that changed she started working on canvases and exploring her art.

While searching for unique subjects, Google introduced her to hyperrealism. Various works from renowned artists in hyperrealism world and especially in food like burgers, desserts, fast foods as art attracted her and she realized that, Indian food was not explored in the milieu.

The artist shares, “This is where I started my journey to depict Indian food as hyper realistic art. To start my journey in hyper realism art world, I didn’t have any references or someone to lookup for help. Painting is all about colours and texture along with thoughts of artists shown on canvas. According to me, any food/cuisine and especially in Indian food, will have amazing textures and colors and this is the inspiration towards my work.”

[caption id="attachment_43962" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Global Indian | TK Sarasvathy Jalebi Painting by artist TK Sarasvathy.[/caption]

Sarasvathy studied the art of hyper real greats including Tjalf Sparnasy and Mary Ellen Johnson, to understand its intricacies and she them calls her inspiration. She adds, “I love their creations and they have influenced me a lot. This is due to the minutely detailed work depicting colour and texture of food.”

Her works are a treat to behold. From idli, sambar and coconut chutney to samosa, naan, gulab jamun, mango lassi and chole bhatura she has created works of well-known Indian dishes covering from North to South, using the medium, Oil on Linen, as her canvas as it helps to get a hyper realistic texture because of its smoothness and its great quality.

Food Fables

Every single painting takes Sarasvathy months and each work is a challenge in itself. This difficulty is not with the dimensions of the food or dish or even color, but lies in bringing those intricacies of details at every centimeter of the canvas to life.

“It took me close to 6 months to paint Idli, Sambar and Chutney and this was due to complexity of idli texture with tiny holes around and being the first painting to be painted in this genre. While eating idli all my life, I never realized it has so much details and hundreds of tiny holes. Now, I cherish eating idli more, knowing its value.” she laughs.

Similarly, when she worked on dosa which had 5000+ circles or on Gulab Jamun, she had to paint 1000+ tiny circles on seven Gulab Jamuns depicted in the paintings took her months. Every painting takes two to three months and surely is very demanding.

These challenges are something the artist relishes. “It is not easy to paint food as there is a very detailed output covering colour, texture, shape of the dish, condiments, magnitude and depth of vegetables among others.” she shares before adding, “When we paint a food/dish, all eyes that are going to watch it, have a pre-determined picture of that food/dish in their mind. As an artist I have to ensure, the picture of that dish in end viewers mind is matching with my work or my art replaces that picture in his brain.”

[caption id="attachment_43960" align="aligncenter" width="511"] Global Indian | TK Sarasvathy Papad painting by Artist TK Sarasvathy.[/caption]

No Pain, No Gain, is her mantra. For example, her painting Papad has almost 1400 big circles and many smaller ones. “I have to make all these circles look like a puffed portion, it is very time consuming but it gives me immense pleasure for creating artworks intricately hand painted capturing every detail. More than anything, it's the satisfaction of achievement and the peace in my mind during every stage of that painting that motivates me.” she adds.

To start her journey in hyper realism art world, Sarasvathy did not have any references or help, it was all self-learnt. An artwork showcasing real-life image on canvas is an overwhelming feeling of happiness for the person behind it and this is what moves Sarasvathy to pay homage to Indian food, no matter the difficulties.

She adds, “What we cook is an expression of who we are and where we come from. Food is one thing that we all have in common and it plays such a central role in every culture, globally. This is the background to my project to bring all famous Indian dishes and my small attempt retrieves culture back into the form that is alive.”

Art as the center

The artist recently collaborated with South Asian Woman’s Creative Collective (SAWCC) public programming that provided a deeper context into the foods of the Indian Subcontinent and with The Cumin Club first ever PR/media dinner in NYC for 25 food writers and editors. Her work brings Indian food to the global diaspora showcasing the rich wealth and heritage of the cuisine.

Global Indian | TK Sarasvathy

Since her work is time-consuming, how does she juggle it with her young family? By being organized and planning ahead, she laughs and shares, “I am blessed to have children (Revant aged 13 and Nipeksha, 7) and a spouse (Nagaraju Palivela, Senior Director - Credit Suisse Bank) who are extremely co-operative and understand my work and my aspirations with art. They are very supportive and lend a hand, sometimes to take care of things. I plan their classes and activities in advance and ensure my meetings and work are done before / after them.”

Currently she started working on a small series of artworks with spoon and fork while she plans on exploring other cuisines too. Creative, Unique and Surreal, the artist is a perfect example of pursuing passion with all of one’s energy. Showcasing real food through hyper real art, the Global Indian captures the mystery of Indian food through her mastery over medium.

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