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Nehal Rachh
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An advertising graduate, Nehal Rachh’s journey as an artist began with her tenure at Kanoria Centre for Art at Ahmedabad in 1995. After a degree in applied arts, from M.S. University, Baroda, she turned towards ceramics, which was her true calling. 8 months at the Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, further gave way to asserting her creativity in the new techniques, which she learnt there. However, it was a three-month residency in...
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An advertising graduate, Nehal Rachh’s journey as an artist began with her tenure at Kanoria Centre for Art at Ahmedabad in 1995. After a degree in applied arts, from M.S. University, Baroda, she turned towards ceramics, which was her true calling. 8 months at the Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, further gave way to asserting her creativity in the new techniques, which she learnt there. However, it was a three-month residency in France in the year 2000, which enabled the artist to go beyond her then current mode of working.
As a part of her growth as an artist and an individual, Nehal tends to outgrow a certain style after a period of time and this itself lends a fresh appeal both to the artist as well as to the viewer. Several new beginnings, seemingly not related to the previous work or attitude of the artist, reveals new dimensions and possibilities in her work. Her work is a continuous journey; she thoroughly enjoys every bit of the process involved in its creation. The inevitable question of “what next” becomes the last stage of each body of work and the beginning of the next. Her current body of work emerges from the need for preservation or fossilization.
“It is a human need to want to keep things as they are, to preserve and cherish. We choose to retain a large number of things. Be it impressions, memories or even objects of desire”.
Nehal chooses to involve the other senses into her work, whether it means the inclusion of graphic patterns in her ceramics or the use of mixed media like wood or fabrics in her sculptures. “An exchange of any sorts, cultural, conceptual or that of medium has only helped enhance my creative capabilities.”
Her work is an overlap of sensibilities. Drawings for her came about purely as a need to express. Her drawings are about her passage through time and life, a trip each one has to take in the due course of living ones life. Sometimes predictable but more often unknown. Her drawings are intuitive; with no pre conceived notion about what will come about once she begins.
Yet, the obvious is obviously not so, in these pen and ink images. Delicate yet strong lines, which are stark and bold along with the prominent empty spaces, and soft, yet assertive use of colours create a flurry of excitement and activity. The lines contour to become alive. Several elements are responsible for the significance of these drawings. More than the need to find a new language, these works are a part of a natural progression of the artists creative thought process. Though at first glance these appear to be minimalist, there is a sense of pattern and movement. Chaotic as they may seem, if one looks closely, there is a possibility of flowing spaces amid this type of a structure. The artist negotiates the boundaries of the actual and unknown to create spaces and routes, which identify with her joy for life.
These works are a sort of outpouring, which are more direct than what the medium of ceramic can offer; a complete contrast to the work she has been doing for the last 15 years. While timing and an understanding of the medium dictates ceramics, the process of drawing for Nehal is more spontaneous and immediate. These works are in actuality a merging of two polars.
The artist lives and works in Baroda.
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Born
1971
Rajkot, Gujarat
Education
2004 Bridge Course (One Year Course in Art History and Aesthetics), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
1997 Spent 7 Months Learning Functional Pottery and Wood Firing Techniques with Ray Meeker, Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, Chennai
1995 Multi-disciplinary Group Studios, Kanoria Center for Arts, Ahmedabad
1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Graphic Design), Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
Exhibitions
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010 'Meanderings', Faculty of Fine...
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2010 'Meanderings', Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
2009 'Recent Works', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2000 Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
Selected Group Exhibitions
2011 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 '10 x 10', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2010 'Purva', L & P Hutheesing Centre, Ahmedabad
2010 ‘Tathagat’, Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
2010 Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda, Gujarat
2009 'Feats of Clay', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2009 '‘Maati', Terracotta Show at India Habitat Center, New Delhi
2009 'Strands of Joy', Rukshaan Art, Mumbai
2008-09 'Whose Touch This Is, I Think I Know…', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2008 ‘Delhi Blue Pottery Award Show, India Habitat Center, New Delhi
2008 'In Depth', Gallery Art and Soul, Mumbai
2008 Allure Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
2007 ‘Art Forms and Forms of Art’, Red Earth Galleries, Vadodara, Gujarat
2007 ‘Indian Ceramics Today -2’, Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture, Lemon Grasshopper Gallery, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
2007 ‘Point of Reference’, Art and Soul Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Instilling Life’, Hacienda Art Gallery , Mumbai
2006 ‘Form to Function’, Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2005 ‘Earth Strokes’, Art and Soul Art Gallery, Mumbai
2005 ‘Mobile / Immobile’ Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
2005 ‘Earth Plates’, Faculty of Fine Arts Gallery, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
2005 Venkattapa Art Gallery, Bangalore, Karnataka
2004 'Potters Platters', Chennai
2004 Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi
2004 ‘Made at Rufford’, Nottingham, U.K.
2003 ‘Lady Bay Open Studios’, Nottingham, U.K.
2002 ‘Water’, Delhi Blue Pottery, New Delhi
2002 Hacienda Art Gallery , Mumbai
2000 Studio Potters 2000, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
Participations
2012 'Art for Humanity', Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai
2010 'One Square Foot Show', organized by Studio Verve at The Gallery at Amdavad ni Gufa, Ahmedabad
2010 'The Baroda March 2010', presented by Rukshaan Art at The Strand Art Room, Mumbai
2010 'Hope for Haiti', Art Auction and Exhibition at Grand Hyatt, Mumbai
2009 'Miniature Format Show 2009 - IInd Part', Sans Tache Gallery, Mumbai
2009 India Art Summit, New Delhi
2008 ‘Miniature Format Show’, Sans Tache Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘Feb Show’, Red Earth Galleries, Vadodara, Gujarat
2005 ‘Harmony Show', Nehru Centre, Mumbai
2002 ‘Harmony Show’, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
Honours and Awards
2008 Residency form Mangrove Ceramic Studio, Bangalore, Karnataka
2007 Junior Cultural Fellowship from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi
2003 Residency at Rufford Ceramic Centre, Nottingham, U.K.
2000 Residency at VAAS, International Art Studio and Gallery, France
2008 Residency form Mangrove Ceramic Studio, Bangalore, Karnataka
2007 Junior Cultural Fellowship from the Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resources, New Delhi
2003 Residency at Rufford Ceramic Centre, Nottingham, U.K.
2000 Residency at VAAS, International Art Studio and Gallery, France
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PAST StoryLTD AUCTIONS
Showing
1
of
1
works
Lot 36
Details
Absolute Tuesdays
15 August 2023
a) Untitled
Signed and dated 'Nehal...
Winning bid
$37
Rs 3,000
(Inclusive of buyer's premium)
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