Parvathi Nayar

Born March 24 1964

Nationality Indian

Education Central St Martins College of Art and Design

Known For Contemporary Art, Drawings, Videos

Notable Works A Story of Flight, Jai He public art project, T2 Terminal Mumbai Airport The Fluidity of Horizons Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014/15 … Intro (1) (2) (3) (4)

Chennai-based visual artist Parvathi Nayar plays an active role - and is deeply committed to supporting - the emerging renaissance of the contemporary in Chennai. Parvathi is best known for her videos and her complex drawing practices and installations; she also engages with sculpture, painting and photography.

Her 20-foot- high drawn-sculpture artwork has been commissioned and installed at the new Mumbai airport opening in 2014. In 2014/15 she presented an installation of drawings and sound titled “The Fluidity of Horizons” at the Kochi Muziris Biennale. She was one of 70 artists selected to be part of B70, the historical 70th anniversary birthday show of Amitabh Bachchan (6), (7)

Her works have been collected by institutions such as the Singapore Art Museum, The Sotheby’s Art Institute, The Australia India Institute and Deutsche Bank (6). In 2008, her painting Firelight was selected to be featured on ABN Amro's Dil Se platinum card in Singapore. Her work has been successfully auctioned at events such as Art Chennai.

Education (4)

2004 MA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London

        on a Chevening Scholarship from the British government

1985 BA Fine Art (Distinction), Stella Maris College, University of Madras Madras

        Ranked first in the University, Best Outgoing Student, Dept Of Fine Arts

Matriculation (Second State Rank, Tamil Nadu) & Plus2, Good Shepherd Convent, Chennai

Parvathi credits her early commitment to visual arts to an arts teacher in primary school (Mrs Rao, Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi). Another important influence was her mother who pursued art as a hobby and was informally taught by Raja Ravi Varma's nephew. In school and college Parvathi was a regular participant in art projects and competitions.

Work

Intersections of science and art

Parvathi’s work examines the narratives of spatial relationships: both the internal/intimate spaces within our bodies, and the external/public in which we live, and often through the prism of science and technology. By treating her artworks as sites of dialogue where different elements – the scientific and the intuitive, the historical and the contemporary – meet and converse, she encourages viewers to re-experience once-familiar perspectives. “Her love for art and science and its unusual depiction through drawing is well-known.” ()(Traveller of Mindscapes by Ashrafi S Bhagat The New Indian Express March 17 2014 ) “Nayar’s work places emphasis on what she calls the “Big Questions”. Why are we here? What is the world made of? How does it work? She often uses science as a prism to explore and explain our world through unusual microscopic and macroscopic perspectives.” () (Art Takes Flight by Nayantara N, Tabla!, Singapore, Page 4 June 20 2014 )

Technique

Nayar believes in the power of the visual – and in the power of imagery as ways of asking deeper questions. “She engages with the drawing medium….(in which she demonstrates) her superior drawing skills, absolute dexterity and control in the use of the medium as well as her excellent draughtsmanship…. She has walked into an unknown territory, yet Chennai-based Parvathi Nayar’s works are not only technically perfect but also emotional.” ( ) (Traveller of Mindscapes by Ashrafi S Bhagat The New Indian Express March 17 2014 ) Within the sphere of the drawn image Nayar uses what could be called a pointillist technique – but while conscious of the history of this method, she comes to it from the pathway of science. The point or punctum or quark is the basic building matter from which a universe is built; similarly Nayar uses the basic dot as a means to create her ambiguous drawn picture scapes.

Early Career

Parvathi focussed on talking about the human presence in the world and its implicit narratives. Drawing was always central to her practice whether in London, Indonesia and Singapore. From the early 2000s, an involvement with the primacy of drawing became a key aspect of Parvathi’s oeuvre.

Important works (2)

Drawing as a verb and a Noun

In such solos as Drawing is a verb, Win Lose Draw and I Sing the Body Electric, Parvathi has reconfigured the gallery space to present her drawings as experiential installations with text and architectural elements. “Parvathi plays with the very small, the small and large as different ways of drawing the body of the viewer into the artwork.”() (Colours of Creation: Narrating Chance, ARTSingapore Catalogue Essay by Hazel Lim for solo show Win Lose Draw, 2007)

Indian Cinema

With cinema being the dominant episteme in India, Parvathi's explorations with cinematic icons and narratives found success in such shows as Spy in Black or Forensic Cinema curated by Shaheen Merali. She was one of 70 artists selected to be part of B70, the historical 70th anniversary birthday show of Amitabh Bachchan. Her work for the show Rasa Nine Links captured media attention, given its reinterpretation of the seminal film Zanjeer that launched superstar Amitabh Bachchan as an Indian icon.

Jai He Public Art Project

Her 20-foot-high drawn-sculptural artwork was commissioned and installed as part of the public art project Jai He at the new Mumbai airport that opened in 2014

The Seeds of Things/The Nature of Things

The hand-drawn graphite drawing The Seeds of Things (90 x 63 x 2 inches) and itscompanion video The Nature of Things (duration 6 mins, 34 secs) was created for the show To Let The World In curated by Dr Chaitanya Sambrani, Art Chennai, Lalit Kala Akademi, 2012.

The Ambiguity of Landscapes

Solo show of drawings, videos, artist book, animation and photography curated by Annapurna Garimella at Gallery Veda, Chennai, India

Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014/15

Parvathi was invited to the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014/15 curated by Jitish Kallat for which she created an installation of drawings and sound titled “The Fluidity of Horizons”.

List of Selected Exhibitions (2) SOLOS 2014 “The Ambiguity of Landscapes” curated by Annapurna Garimella, Gallery Veda, Chennai, India 2008 “I Sing the Body Electric”, Bombay Art Gallery Mumbai, India 2007 “Win Lose Draw”, commissioned by ARTSingapore 2007 Singapore 2006 “Innerscapes”, curated by Caroline Bannerjee, Song of India Singapore “drawing is a verb: an installation”, curated by Phan Ming Yen, The Arts House, Singapore 1998 "Journey", Kinara, Jakarta, Indonesia 1997 "Flowers, Faces, Feelings", Jakarta, Indonesia 1996 "the art of a woman", the Koi Gallery, Jakarta, Indonesia 1994 "Woman and the Elements", Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore GROUP SHOWS 2016 “Wayfarers” recent works by Parvathi Nayar presented by Birla Academy of Art and Culture, two-person show at India Art Fair, New Delhi 2015 False Alternatives curated by Meenakshi Thirukode, Chennai

Mapping a World of Curiosities, Studio Art Gallery, New Delhi

Devotion, Gallery Art Positive, New Delhi 2014 Kochi Muziris Biennale curated by Jitish Kallat, Aspinwall House, Kochi

        Madras Jasmine curated by Premalatha Sheshadri, Arts Houz, Chennai
        Scapes: City/Land curated by Karishma Shah, Surat
        Make A Wish Foundation show, Mumbai
        Form And Function: A Sculpture Show, Chennai

2013 Wonderland, Park Hyatt and Gallery Veda, Chennai

        United Art Fair curated by Mayank Kaul, New Delhi
        The Material Point, curated by Kathleen Wyma, Gallery OED, Kochi
        India Art Fair, New Delhi
        Knotted Narratives, curated by Sushma Bahl, Art Positive, New Delhi

2012 To Let the World In, curated by Dr Chaitanya Sambrani, Art Chennai, Chennai

        The Secret Life of Plants, curated by Maya Kovskaya, Exhibit320,          New Delhi
        Skin Deep, curated by Lyla Rao, Religare Arts Initiative, New Delhi
        Small is Big curated by Anoop Kamath, Durbar Hall, Kochi
        India Art Fair, New Delhi
        Firm Ground Beneath Her Feet, Gallery Veda, Chennai
        B Seventy, Curated show celebrating Amitabh Bachchan’s 70th birthday,      Mumbai

London Universities International Partnership Show, High Commissioners Residence New Delhi 2011 India Art Summit, New Delhi

        What Happens in Mukteshwar, curated by Priya Pall, New Delhi
        Brush with the Divine, curated by Swapnil Khullar, The Viewing Room,          Mumbai
        Red, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
        Emerging Idioms, Apparao Gallery, New Delhi & Chennai
        Women Artists in Singapore, The Singapore Art Museum, Singapore

2010 Water & Movement, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Cinema Verite Redux, curated by Shaheen Merali, Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore & Chennai

        Her Work is Never Done, curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Gallery BMB        Mumbai
        Feminine Recitals, curated by Veerangana Solanki, Exhibit 320, New Delhi
        A S.Y.C.O, The Viewing Room, curated by Niyatee Shinde, Mumbai
        Dakshin Paschim, Emami Chisel Art, curated by Dr Archana Roy, Kolkotta
        Evolution of the Species, curated by Vickram Sethi, Institute of     Contemporary Indian Art Mumbai
        Search Within, Galerie 88, Kolkotta
        The New Order Beauty, (curators Vibha Galhotra/Remen Chopra), Palette    Art Gallery, Delhi
        Journey of the Line, part of “The Madras Art Initiative” citywide festival        Chennai

2009 Spy in Black, Apparao Galleries, Chennai

        Perspecta, Opening exhibition, Cholamandal Contemporary Art Centre                   Chennai
        Remembering Bharati, curated by Indus Fine Arts, Chennai
        Indian Art Summit, Delhi
        Gender Genetics Genesis, Gallery Espace, Delhi

2008 “Af-fair”, curated by Bose Krishnamachari, 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai

        The Art of Giving, Arts House, Singapore
        “India Splendour”, Fullerton Hotel & Arts House, Singapore
        “Drawing Out Conversations”, in conjunction with the Singapore Biennale    Singapore

“Nature of the City”, curated by Alexander Keeke & Nitin Mukul, Religare Art Centre, Delhi 2007 “Soft Spoken”, curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Jehangir Nicholson Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai

        “Tiger Translate”, global tour, Beijing

2006 “Nature Born”, curated by Joanna Lee, Langgeng Contemporary Art Festival Indonesia

        ArtSingapore 2006 (international contemporary art fair), Suntec          Singapore
        “Adventures of little things”, curated by Bridget Tracy Tan, NAFA Gallery      Singapore
        UOB Painting of the year competition 2006, Esplanade, Singapore

The 21st Asian International Art Exhibition, Singapore Art Museum Singapore 2005 CP Biennale II , curated by Jim Supangkat, Bank Indonesia Building Jakarta

        “Feminine Fables”, Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
        “location/locality”, Diorama gallery, London

“popularart: from Nehru’s democracy to the networked multitude”, Nehru Centre London 2004 “Small is Beautiful”, Familiofiumano gallery, London

        MA Fine Art Graduate Show, Central Saint Martins, London
        “Writing a Painting”, performance, Victoria Miro Gallery, London
        “While I was Painting”, 60 Second Video show, Gallery 291, London
        “Living in London Exhibition”, London  College of Fashion, London
        “Unfinished”, London College of Printing, London
        “Xhibit”, The Arts Gallery, London

2003 “Zodiac: A Confluence of East and West”, Art Seasons Gallery Singapore

        “Celestial Encounters”, Utterly Art Gallery, Singapore

2002 “Time Cycles”, Alliance Francais, Singapore 2001 “Pulp Friction”, curated by Bridget Tracy Tan, Singapore Art Museum Singapore

        “Indian art exhibition”, Artfolio, Singapore
        “Women Beyond Borders”, Sculpture Square, Singapore

2000 “A Passage Through India”, Galerie Dauphin, Singapore 1999 “Indian Art Through The Ages”, The Caldwell House Gallery, Singapore

        “The Sensual Spirit”, Galerie Dauphin, Singapore

1996 “Grand Shell Discovery Art Exhibition 1996", Singapore 1995 "The Philippe Charriol Foundation Art Exhibition" Singapore 1994 "Confluence", Boat Quay, Singapore

        "MEH Art Exhibition," Art Forum, Singapore

1992 One of six selected artists for the "11th Discovery Art Exhibition", Shell Towers, Singapore 1991 "Figurama", organised by Group 90, Singapore

        "Chitrakala", an exhibition of Indian artists working in Singapore          Singapore

Film (2)

2015 "Artists of Chennai: Parvathi Nayar" by leading photographer/filmmaker Saravana Kumar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5vQBvX2mEI&list=PLZSWvRVl_p38Yw63FFvM9sROx10wbqVtz&index=3 2014 Parvathi Nayar Artist Interview at http://kochimuzirisbiennale.org/artist-interview-parvathi-nayar/ 2012 Featured in Volume 2 of the documentary “To Let The World In” by Avijit Mukul Kishore & Dr Chaitanya Sambrani

Awards (1)

Award for Contemporary Visual Art at The Global Malayalee Forum organised by Amma, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia 2015) Penn Shakti Award from Femina (2014) The Inspiring Change Award in connection with Women’s Day, Chennai (2014) Cecil Collins Drawing Award (London 2004) Only Singapore-based journalist sent to Olympics Arts Festival Sydney by the Australian consulate in Singapore (2000) Singapore Press Holdings newscom award, for work on Singapore Arts Fest (2000) Award from Jakarta Media Communications for Journalism (1996)

Other Achievements (1)

Parvathi has donated time and art regularly to charity organisations such as Concern India and the Arts Fund Singapore. She has given talks on art and related topics at the Mohile Parikh Centre Mumbai, BNP Paribas and IWA Chennai. She is often in conversation with authors at literary events; for the opening event of Chennai's Lit for Life Festival 2015 she was in conversation with Eleanor Catton. She was the discussant for the British Council presentations of Granta authors in Chennai.

Parvathi is a creative writer and poet. She writes as a cultural commentator on aspects of contemporary art such as modern dance and film. She has written for such media as The Business Times and Tabla! in Singapore, the Jakarta Post and the Indonesian Observer in Indonesia and The Hindu in India.

As a creative writer, Parvathi writes poetry, short stories; she was associated with playwriting initiatives of TheatreWorks Singapore where her play Cards was produced.

References Press (1) (2) (3) Twice as Good, by Manoj Nair, Arts Illustrated, Feb-Mar 2016, Volume03 Issue 05

Moving Through A Historical TIme Lapse (Parvathi Nayar’s work at the Kochi Muziris Biennale), by Tuba Raqshan, Chennai Chronicle, Dec 15, 2014 (7)

Across An Abstract Sea (Parvathi Nayar’s work at the Kochi Muziris Biennale), by Esther Elias,

The Hindu Metroplus, December 11 2014 (7)

Art Takes Flight By Nayantara N, Tabla! (SPH Group), Singapore, June 20 2014

India’s largest public art project lands at Mumbai airport, by Kriti Bajaj, Art Radar Asia, Jan 10, 2014 (6)

T2 Mumbai: A grand museum that shows “what Indian art is all about” by Mohini Chaudhuri, The Hindu Business Line, Jan 12, 2014

Big B, in frames by Harshika Udasi, The Hindu, Chennai, Fri Oct 12, 2013

Celebrating BigB on Canvas by Varsha Naik, DNA After hours, pg2, Mumbai, Oct 11 2012

The Portrait of an Artist, by Mrinal Rajaram, Economic Times Madras Plus, April 6, 2012

Parvathi Nayar at ARTSingapore By Ian Findlay, Asian Art News, Jan/Feb 2008, Hong Kong

Art of Drawing Revived by David Chew, ISH magazine, page 116-p119, Singapore

A Card to Warm Global Indians’ Hearts , The Business Times, March 22-23, 2008, Singapore

Womb Raiders, review of Parvathi Nayar’s solo, by Deepanjana Pal, Time Out, Mumbai, April 14- 17, 2008

In the beginning was a Dot – An artist’s journey by Arthur Sim, July 22-23 2006, The Business Times, Singapore.

Artist holds Workshop for underprivileged children , The Business Times, Mon Aug 7 2006 Essays (3)

The Ambiguity of Landscapes; curatorial essay accompanying Parvathi’s solo show, by Annapurna Garimela and Sindhura DM Jois, Gallery Veda, Chennai, 2014

Cinema Verite Redux by Shaheen Merali, title essay accompanying show at Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore & Chennai

Af-fair, 1x1 Art Gallery, Dubai; Title essay on Parvathi Nayar’s art by Venka Purushothaman 2008

Scale and Subjectivity in Parvathi Nayar’s Drawings - a conversation between Parvathi Nayar and Ong Keng Sen moderated by Ashraf Safdar; essay for Soft Spoken curated by Bose Krishnamachari, presented by Bombay Art Gallery, 2007, Mumbai.

A Study in Objects by Bridget Tracy Tan; Curatorial Essay for Adventures of Little Things, 2006, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Gallery, Singapore.

Nature Born by Joanna Lee; Curatorial Essay for Langgeng Contemporary Art Festival 2006, at Langgeng Gallery, Magelang.

Conversation with Parvathi Nayar; conversation between Joanna Lee and Parvathi Nayar; for Langgeng Contemporary Art Festival 2006, at Langgeng Gallery.

The Pencil of Nature: Drawings by Parvathi Nayar, title essay by Kenneth Feinstein for “i sing the body electric” catalogue, 2008

Win Lose Draw: Recent Drawings by Ahmad Mashadi, for solo show Win Lose Draw, 2007

Colours of Creation: Narrating Chance, by Hazel Lim for solo show Win Lose Draw, 2007

Seeing the Verb in a Drawing by Phan Ming Yeng, Curatorial Essay for solo show drawing is a verb – an installation, 2006, at the Arts House, Singapore.

Passages by TK Sabapathy, 2003, Title essay for the book Passages on Parvathi Nayar’s drawings and paintings.

Identity Card: Diasporic Consciousness in the art of Parvathi Nayar by Venka Purushothaman, essay in the book Passages on Parvathi Nayar’s drawings and paintings.

Arts and Arts Writing, a Conversation between Parvathi Nayar, Lee Weng Choy and Audrey Perera in the book Passages on Parvathi Nayar’s drawings and paintings.

Pulp Friction: Materials in Contemporary Art by Bridget Tracy Tan; curatorial essay for Pulp Friction, 2001, Singapore Art Museum.

Facing and Defacing by Sarah Murray, Curatorial Essay for solo show “art of a woman”, Koi Gallery, Jakarta.

Thoughts on the Elemental Woman, by TK Sabapathy, 1993, essay accompanying solo show Woman and the Elements, Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore.

Links

1. http://www.parvathinayar.com/achievments.html

2. http://www.parvathinayar.com/exhibitions.html

3. http://www.parvathinayar.com/work.html

4. http://www.parvathinayar.com/about.html

5. http://www.parvathinayar.com/

6. http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/A-life-offered-to-art/2013/08/23/article1747082.ece

7. http://kochimuzirisbiennale.org/artist-interview-parvathi-nayar/

8. http://www.wkexp.com/artists/parvathi-nayar