Aditi Aggarwal is a Visual Artist based out of Delhi NCR region, India. She holds a PhD in Visual Studies from the University of Delhi. Her recent projects include the 'Future is Born of Art' commission by India Art Fair and BMW India. In 2019, she was a part of the Indo-European Residency Project Kolkata organized by the British Council, Kolkata, the Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan Kolkata and the Alliance Française du Bengale in collaboration with the Kolkata-based gallery CIMA and Kala Bhavana, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, West Bengal. She is also a recipient of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi X Art-Reach India Teaching Fellowship. More recently she was awarded The Odyssey Fellowship by The Alternative Art School (Online /Global). In her works, Aditi explores and expresses the idea of repetition, beauty, automatism and spontaneity through bookmaking and painting format. She is also a founding member of Studio A 89, Kaladham, based out of Knowledge Park 2, Greater Noida. A studio that focuses on Painting + Analogue and Alternative mediums and approaches of photography.
Research
My research delves into the intricate temporal dimensions of urban existence through artistic exploration. It endeavors to encapsulate the essence of urban life—its noise, speed, and temporal layers—by abstracting time and space in creative ways. This approach aims to construct visual narratives that mirror the chaos and fragmentation inherent in city living, reflecting on themes of anxiety and dysfunction.
Central to my artistic practice is the integration of immediate surroundings, objects, and memories into the creative process. Utilizing diverse formats such as bookmaking, drawing, painting, and both analogue and digital collages, I strive to capture the intensity and multiplicity of urban experiences. These multifaceted images convey multiple viewpoints simultaneously, offering a kaleidoscopic view of urban life's complexities.
One of my projects, "1 Sq Feet at a Time," epitomizes this approach by archiving urban elements within one-square-foot segments. This microcosmic documentation compresses the urban experience, encapsulating its dynamic temporalities and spatial intricacies. Meanwhile, "Echoes of Light" revives traditional photographic techniques like pinhole photography to document contemporary artists and their spaces. This interdisciplinary project merges archival practices with creative storytelling, bridging past and present artistic expressions.
Pinhole photography, with its lensless approach, contrasts sharply with digital precision, celebrating analogue's enduring relevance and aesthetic beauty. Through workshops, exhibitions, and publications, "Echoes of Light" aims to spark dialogues on the evolution of photographic practices, echoing Walter Benjamin's exploration of technology's impact on art.
My research is framed by the concept of Intelligence-Love-Revolution, which underscores the transformative potential of local formations in shaping global structures. This theoretical framework challenges conventional models by advocating for methodological collectivism over individualism, emphasizing dialectical interactions among local transformations.
My work seeks to inspire a deeper understanding of urban environments and foster community engagement. By blending contemporary and traditional artistic methods, my projects create comprehensive visual archives that invite viewers to reconsider their perceptions of urban dynamics. Through collaboration and education, I aim to cultivate a more connected, mindful, and creative urban existence, rooted in philosophical inquiry and responsive to the complexities of our contemporary world.
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