Preeti Varma
New York, NY
Website
preetivarma.com
How would you describe your work?
As a visual artist, my creative journey traverses multidisciplinary genres, encompassing painting, mixed media, and photography. I have also explored some three-dimensional work in the form of sculptural installations.
My time in Asia and the influences of oriental art led to the beginning of a distinct visual language in my mixed media work, with the overlooked and the mundane in the built environment as my muse. I employ photography and wax on delicate rice paper to create layered works that speak to the human experience in our fast-paced lives while challenging broader narratives about conventional notions of beauty, aesthetic value, and where it resides. My work questions our relationship with the world around us and explores themes of identity, place, and belonging.
My oil paintings are a stream of consciousness, where memory, the subconscious mind, and my cultural heritage guide a visual representation of my inner-outer world. In these mindscapes, physical and mental spaces merge in a dynamic, ever-changing way. My focus on texture, color, and form reflects my interest in the tactile, sensory, and material qualities of the world around me that I sometimes observe as an outsider. I find myself captivated by the infinite possibilities that these elements provide, from the evocative power of color to the expressive potential of form.
The physical and cultural context of existence, the interconnectedness between me, the organic and inanimate world inspires the abstract biomorphic form often seen in my work. Intrigue, impulse, intuition, and metamorphosis are essential tenets of my work.
Currently, my work includes two distinct bodies of works - the oil painting series Nefelibata and Innsaei and mixed media works on rice paper, Aesthetics of the Quotidian, Memory Bytes, and The Seen Unseen. Examples of these and my past works can be viewed on my website.
What inspires you?
The complex and multifaceted nature of human experience inspires me. I draw from a combination of personal experiences, theoretical engagements as an artist, and a belief in the power of art to stimulate thoughts and create connections.
My work is profoundly informed by my experiences as a migrant over the last twenty-five years. I have lived and worked in different cities across the East and the West. In 2015, my husband and I relocated to the vibrant city of New York, where I currently reside and practice my art.
In moving across cities and countries, I have experienced the fluidity of physical space, constantly shifting between places and cultures. These encounters have nurtured and fueled my curiosity, creating a deep engagement with my immediate surroundings and rendering me acutely attuned to the familiar and the unfamiliar.
Living amidst diverse urban landscapes and cultures has been a rich source of inspiration, shaping my understanding of identity, human connections, memory, movement, and belonging, all informing my conceptual concerns.
Can you speak about your process?
An integral part of my process is the simple but engaged act of walking or wandering around urban landscapes assimilating information. I take hundreds of photographs of objects and details that most would scarcely notice. These could be anything from the ubiquitous fire hydrants, drain pipes and covers, construction site elements, abandoned objects, subway tracks and tiles, poetic cracks, blocks of colors and curious markings on the streets, a puddle, et al. I study the material qualities of these quotidian elements and observe the meditative moments of interacting with them. These visual references that I assign meaning and history to act as an inspiration for my work. It creates a means to connect with the spaces we inhabit, mapping the physical and the emotional landscape. I review these photographs and use what resonates with me most in a selective collage-like form where paper and wax are used to create layered works presented as long paper scrolls or small intimate works. It is a form of storytelling that fuses my Eastern and Western influences.
While I plan an overall composition, spontaneity and chance inform my art-making process. I often incorporate and give in to the unpredictability and fluidity of my materials, like oil paints and wax. The process combines intuition, experimentation, and intentional creative decision-making.
How did you become interested in art?
I was always a painter and a creative being from a young age. I actively participated in various opportunities and art competitions growing up. My art teacher had encouraged me to study arts and take that up as a profession. However, I realized that the life of an artist could be unpredictable in terms of being financially self-sustaining. My desire to be independent, flair and passion for working with people led me down a corporate career path for over 18 years.
The pivot to my art career began in 2003 when I felt called to paint again alongside my full-time job. A chance encounter with an accomplished Indian artist, who also became a mentor, led to my first group show in 2006. These events sowed the seed for my transition into becoming a professional artist.
In the ensuing years, I devoted myself entirely to my artistic calling and committed to a comprehensive education in fine arts. In 2014, I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, in collaboration with The LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore. After relocating to New York, I continued to expand my horizons by seeking tutelage at the prestigious Art Students League of New York.
What advice do you have for younger artists?
Creativity is not a static destination but a dynamic journey of continuous inquiry and discovery with the power to transform both the artist and the world. So, keep learning and exploring.
Don’t be too attached to the outcome of your work; focus more on the process and the journey of making art.
Lastly and most importantly, stay true to yourself and focus on creating work that is authentic to you and your artistic vision.
Any more thoughts about art, creativity, or anything else you would like to share?
Art reminds us that we are all connected, that we all have something to offer the world, and there is always more to discover and explore. I want to keep creating, questioning, and seeking new perspectives and experiences within art and beyond. There is beauty and meaning to be found everywhere if only we take the time to look for it. My other reflection is about the ever-evolving journey of self-discovery that life is where we are constantly learning, unlearning and relearning. As artists, we are always testing the boundaries of our creative expression, challenging our assumptions and biases, and exploring new ways of working. This process allows us to grow, expand our vocabulary, and push the boundaries of what is possible in our work.
I am currently working on a new body of works for an upcoming solo show in New York.
