Tao Art Gallery’s creative director Sanjana Shah and artist Viraj Khanna. Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Between capturing the cultural zeitgeist of social-media-triggered existentialist patterns and exploring expressionism through various art mediums, artist Viraj Khanna’s works at Mumbai’s Tao Art Gallery excite the mind and heart in equal measure. A compelling narrative on brain rot, dubbed Oxford Word of the Year 2024, is the title of his second solo exhibition at the gallery Brain Rot: The Life You Live?
The retrospective displays 10 fiberglass sculptures and 14 embroidered textiles. , Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
“This show is very personal to me – you can see the inner workings of my mind through the different works I am displaying. The textile titles reflect my thought patterns when I share photos on social media. My own screen time averages more than seven hours a day, which I find shocking. I know how bad it is for me, and I can feel the effects of this high screen time sometimes, but I still can’t seem to turn it down. I need to be active on Instagram and other platforms for my career,” says Kolkata-based Viraj, who is currently studying fine arts at the School of the Arts Institute in Chicago.
Hand embroidery on fabric, titled This is a very expensive jacket; 68 x 44 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The retrospective displays 10 fiberglass sculptures and 14 embroidered textiles. “I have worked on a few different styles in terms of fluidity of embroidery. Some of the artworks also feature artificial leather and leaf embroidery,” he shares.
Acrylic on fiberglass sculpture, titled I’m Like This Only for Instagram; 13 x 15 x 12 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Textiles highlight visual and tactile textures. “The embroidery work takes 500 to 2,000 hours. I work with a team of craftsmen and there is a lot of experimentation going on with Aari and Zardozi. I actually paint or make collages. Once this is done, the blueprint (or layout) is created. Then, for embroidery, one experiments with the material. Some works have padding to create a 3D effect and also have embroidered patches. I’ve also experimented with the French knot,” he says.
Hand embroidery on fabric, titled Should I upload this on Insta?; 58 x 47 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The fiberglass figurines are puppet-like figures with dark and plump lips and eye sockets. Another notable feature in these figurines is the use of big brand logos. “Logomania comes from my need to be seen a certain way! I run luxury brands like Anamika Khanna and AK-OK, so I definitely feel it more. We live in a society where we are represented by images. Everyone tells me that I am actually very different than what they expected based on my social media profiles. Each idol takes a few months to make,” says Viraj.
Acrylic on fiberglass sculpture, titled An Expensive Hobby Acrylic; 16 x 16 x 11 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Most of the artworks depict contrasting tonal compositions. Dark colors, like black and dark brown, are cushioned between vibrant shades of blue, yellow, green and purple. “The British-Mexican painter Leonora Carrington used to say about her work – that we’re always trying to over-intellectualize everything,” says Viraj. I agree with this because we make a lot of decisions that are only visual. Sometimes, I just experiment with different colors and choose something that feels right to me. These are subconscious decisions we make as artists but they reflect our aesthetic. I would say the same for clothes.”
Hand embroidery on fabric, titled $300 Lunch… People Should Know?; 68 x 46 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
When defining the creative arc that guides his ideology, Viraj prefers to believe that it happens “organically”, because he is thinking about it when he uses his phone So what is going on in his mind? “I would post pictures and wonder why they didn’t get enough likes. Or I’ll post a story in which portraying a certain lifestyle may be completely redundant. I’ll post pictures of parties I’m attending, which really ruins the party experience,” he says.
Acrylic on fiberglass sculpture, titled Woke Up Like This Acrylic; Fiberglass 8 x 18 x 11 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
For Sanjana Shah, creative director of Tao Art Gallery, Viraj’s artwork is a product of her interaction with the outside world and her inner self. “While artistically beautiful and tech-oriented, it also displays a fundamental philosophical bent that is rare and takes years to develop. It impressed me with its cultural relevance in today’s day and age,” she adds.
The acrylic on fiberglass sculpture, titled It Makes It Easy to See the Reels; 26 x 12 x 6 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Next month, Viraj will be exhibiting his Khakha painting series at the India Art Fair. “I have used tracing paper or sketch and the paint has dripped despite the needle holes in the paper. I’m so excited to show these works! Additionally, I am working on a solo at Rajeev Menon Contemporary in Los Angeles,” he concludes.
Hand embroidery on cloth, titled ‘I Look Like a Superstar’; 48 x 62 inches | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Viraj Khanna’s artworks will be on view at Tao Art Gallery in Mumbai till February 9. There are quite a few artworks on sale starting at ₹1 lakh.
published – January 10, 2025 05:04 PM IST
