Art Incept has organized a new exhibition in New Delhi named “Where do I Belong” which is set to run this week. The venue for the event is set to be the Sridhar Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam. Savitha was born in 1995 in Tamil Nadu and studied painting at MSU Baroda. The concept of space, which contains endless narratives, is at the center of Savitha’s attention. Using repeating patterns, she expresses her fondness for recounting tales about the places she has ventured or those that hold great meaning to her. Savitha Ravi’s creative output is primarily shaped by her recollections of her upbringing in Baroda and her family’s dwelling in Tamil Nadu. In her early years, she experienced a profound kinship with her family and had a great fondness for playing board games alongside them. The impact of this experience caused her to revaluate the kind of work she envisions for herself. She exhibited exceptional attentiveness toward the design, construction, and renovation of buildings during particular time frames. It sparked her interest to ponder if one could attain an understanding of space philosophy. The focus of her artistic works remains on the investigation of the characteristics that evoke a sense of home in a given space or location. The word place has been comprehended in different manners. Describing how people relate to spaces and places can be complicated. It indicates exceptional attributes that can be observed in certain places but not in others. In simpler terms, it indicates that people harbor a particular perception or notion about something, without it directly relating to the object itself. This principle is applicable in the realms of psychology and imaginative thinking. What elements contribute to the conversion of space into a home? In other words, how a place can be defined as a meaningful space or a home?
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The manner in which she produces things deviates from the norm. The lines she draws are not as flawlessly straight as those seen in architectural designs. She purposefully distorts them, presenting a fabricated image of perfection or idealism. She is eager to demonstrate the vision of an impeccable world. She manages to captivate her viewers through the innovative symbolism of canals, representing the perpetual fluctuations in the lives of humans and the natural world. Exploration of the vast expanse of space and establishing a profound connection captivates her curiosity. It is comparable to establishing a tangible connection with the deep thoughts it contains. The idea of a home also referred to as “Ghar,” can be comprehended from multiple perspectives. The individual’s viewpoint emphasizes how people’s psychology inherently prioritizes the desire for a place they can identify as their own. Moreover, she ponders the elements that transform a place into a comfortable dwelling. She incorporates human characteristics into her artworks, and the integration of vertical and horizontal lines adds a sense of dimension. The idea of utilizing board games for her work arose, and this notion was further improved by employing only a few simple resources. Additionally, she tested out diverse techniques, including intaglio, to assess their aesthetic outcome.
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Her strong belief rests on the idea of critically examining the concept that any given place can hold the significance of a home for an individual. By incorporating different materials, her art pieces accentuate the significance of buildings and colors. Initially, her artwork creates a tranquil ambiance, but upon deeper observation, it portrays human life’s constantly shifting and unpredictable aspects. Savitha’s strong desire to find her place urges her to venture out and create different things. She has a particular style when it comes to making prints. She skillfully transforms discarded tetra packs into exquisite “plates”. Her hometown is frequently brought to mind by the pictures, specifically the house of her grandfather. While enveloped in a realm of reverie, she senses a powerful yearning that remains elusive in its description. The sensation of being trapped between contrasting realms inspired her to create large fabric artworks embellished with images. By painting her autobiography gradually, she undergoes a transformative process of self-discovery, unravelling various layers of her being. Do the artworks encapsulate a state of transition and a feeling of longing? Within Savitha’s existing collection, numerous metaphorical links can be found.
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When queried about her methodology, she responded, “The primary focus of my artistic expression revolves around how buildings and boxes serve as vessels for countless memories experienced by people. While these memories may differ, they all occur within the same physical surroundings. That’s how I embarked on my artistic journey. The essence of this project lies in the notion of a space that we identify as our residence. It’s only about that specific search. This show is about me trying to find my things. My fondness for architecture led me to reflect on my roots, ultimately giving birth to the thought. Where do I come from? Where do I fit in? To satisfy my curiosity, I ventured to my family’s previous dwelling in Tamil Nadu, which had been recently ruined. I finally got the chance to explore that place. I was wondering if my house is destroyed, where will I live. Is there a special place that I can pretend is my home? What if my home is close to a canal, or even in the canal itself? It feels like I am sitting in the middle, and everything around me is like a clear picture of all the places I have been to and all the places that are important to me. These places are a big inspiration for my work. They are not completely made up, but they are also not exactly real.” Similar to how she handles everything else, Savitha reveals her family’s history to us, granting us a nostalgic glimpse into her life and simultaneously prompting us to think about her present experiences.
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Would you like to think about the idea of talking about childhood in this work? “I also include board games in my work. My work incorporates a fusion of board games and architectural elements. Baroda is where I both live and work. My house is located approximately six to seven kilometers away from a canal. Throughout my stay, I would frequently ride my bike to a canal where my eyes were treated to the mesmerizing view of flowing water and its ripple effect. This inspired me to pursue similar work. My mind is constantly occupied with imaginative endeavors, where I undertake various creative tasks. It is frequently practiced to convert memories into images. The presence of these ripples instills a sense of limitless potential and the ability to accomplish all desired goals. I enjoy trying out different ways of doing things and experimenting with various tools and materials. Each year, I experiment with different ways of making prints. I learned about printmaking in a special class while I was studying for my master’s degree. Hailing from Ohio, the instructor presented us with various approaches to experimenting with print-making. That’s how I started printing using empty tetra-pack boxes.”
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What is your opinion on employing lines extensively? “Generating lines is akin to establishing a space, thereby expanding its overall size. The field of architecture captivates me, and an eloquent comparison suggests that a line can resemble a dot on a journey. I enhance the conveyance of my concept by thoroughly assessing and selecting the most effective medium. I merged distinct images to produce a unique picture. Abstraction has always come naturally to me in my art, especially when it comes to my preferred figurative style. My skills in grasping abstract ideas have advanced and transformed over the years.” The drawn lines indicate the immense playfulness portrayed by the object or individual captured in the picture. Initially, it will give the impression of being sleek and orderly, yet upon closer inspection, its distinctiveness becomes evident. Home is symbolically embodied by boxes, akin to the playful games we enjoyed during our younger years. In other words, her investigation highlights that the universal longing for personal residence is crucial in defining an ideal home. Everyone wants a perfect place to live. “I am thinking about time that keeps passing, and how our desires keep getting stronger. The never-ending desire for things that cannot be satisfied. And that’s how I show the smooth and changing nature.”
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