Ahalya Raj
1997, Punalur, Kollam, Kerala, India
Ahalya Raj is an artist from Kollam, Kerala, who graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Govt. College of Fine Arts in Thrissur, Kerala, and pursued an MVA in Painting at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She has been exhibiting regularly in several group exhibitions, like the Lokame Tharavadu (The world is one family) curated by Bose Krishnamachari (2021), The Nasreen Mohamedi Scholarship Award Display, MSU Fine Arts, Baroda (2019), The International Kalamela group exhibition, New Delhi (2018). She was also a participant in the Kerala State Exhibition, Darbar Hall, Ernakulam, Kerala (2021), Kochi Muziris Students Biennale (2018 & 2021), Sakti Women’s Art camp, and Exhibition conducted by the Art India Company, Himachal Pradesh (2020), and ENCORE Final Display at Govt. College of Fine Arts, Thrissur, Kerala (2019). She is now currently living and continuing her studio practice in Kerala.
The central characters in Ahalya’s artworks are a part of her family, the life of people, and pets. Her inspiration comes from the agrarian life and her surroundings. She gives more importance to drawing and therefore when she does her paintings, drawing too occurs naturally alongside it. Whenever she comes across figures of interest, if they suit her landscapes, these figures manage to find a place in her paintings.
Ahalya focuses on the scenarios near to her and develops a keen observation of an object or a figure. These objects lead to childhood memories, as even the new generation of children in the environment where she grew up, can be seen engaging in these kinds of childhood games. Childhood memories also play a major role in her art training, going forward in the context of experiences seen and known in everyday life. She is more interested in creating a new premise through her narratives, than drawing directly what she sees, whether it’s from travel or a daily sight.
Happiness is something that remains a constant, when Ahalya observes the sights around her, and also when the importance of that experience comes into the works.
Contact Details:
Telephone: +91 90612 63075
Email: ahalyarajendran97@gmail.com
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