Raihan Rajiv Vadra is a Visual Artist and Curator. His visual works encompass themes ranging from wildlife and street to commercial photography. Raihan’s speciality lies in his installation and immersive artwork, creating experiences through his visual art and installations that captivate viewers with intricate concepts. Raihan uses his own life experiences and relatable daily life instances to build on concepts such as choice, control and unity amongst other ideas.
EXHIBITIONS
Upamana - Solo — 27 January - 10 February 2024 - New Delhi
Upamana is part of a series of 5 solo shows, spread over a decade, based on the 5 schools of logic in Indian philosophy (5 Pramanas). Using concepts derived from the above, the immersive shows use installations, visual art, sound and lighting to explore multiple comparisons and analogies that people face throughout life. Borrowing from Sanskrit words -- upa (similarity) + mãna (knowledge), the word describes the act of “Knowledge arising from the association of something previously unknown”. This show builds upon themes such as control choice, compulsion, memory and emotion that were explored during the artist’s previous works – Dark Perception (2021) and Anumana (2022).
Each artwork in the exhibition portrays different aspects of comparison and its impact on our perception. Through curated daily walkthroughs, visitors will have the opportunity to delve into the artist's interpretation of the three constructs of comparison: similarity, dissimilarity, and peculiarity. The materials used for the works are metal, resin, fibreglass, naturally sourced trees and roots, photographs printed on archival paper, LED strip lighting and vinyl. A soundtrack is specifically created for the show which will go along with a voiceover that will introduce the viewer to each room, creating a holistic experience.
Artix 2.0 - Solo — 15 - 17 March 2024 - Hyderabad
Raihan displayed his wildlife photography works at the 2nd edition of India’s largest Hotel Art Fair in Hyderabad in March 2024.
Upamana - Solo — 27 January - 10 February 2024 - New Delhi
Upamana is part of a series of 5 solo shows, spread over a decade, based on the 5 schools of logic in Indian philosophy (5 Pramanas). Using concepts derived from the above, the immersive shows use installations, visual art, sound and lighting to explore multiple comparisons and analogies that people face throughout life. Borrowing from Sanskrit words -- upa (similarity) + mãna (knowledge), the word describes the act of “Knowledge arising from the association of something previously unknown”. This show builds upon themes such as control choice, compulsion, memory and emotion that were explored during the artist’s previous works – Dark Perception (2021) and Anumana (2022).
Each artwork in the exhibition portrays different aspects of comparison and its impact on our perception. Through curated daily walkthroughs, visitors will have the opportunity to delve into the artist's interpretation of the three constructs of comparison: similarity, dissimilarity, and peculiarity. The materials used for the works are metal, resin, fibreglass, naturally sourced trees and roots, photographs printed on archival paper, LED strip lighting and vinyl. A soundtrack is specifically created for the show which will go along with a voiceover that will introduce the viewer to each room, creating a holistic experience.
Artix 2.0 - Solo — 15 - 17 March 2024 - Hyderabad
Raihan displayed his wildlife photography works at the 2nd edition of India’s largest Hotel Art Fair in Hyderabad in March 2024.
We ask him some quick questions about his life and journey.
Why do you do what you do?
Photography has always been a passion. It began as a childhood hobby, taking photographs of animals in the wild and gradually developed into a medium through which I could both observe and reflect the elements of life as my journey unfolded.
What inspires you?
I try to take inspiration from ideas and concept that I and most others deal with on a regular basis.
What’s your story?
My artistic story began with a point and shoot camera in the jungles of Ranthambore in the early 2000’s, evolving from a hobby into a passion in my later years of school. In 2017, after a significant injury to my eye that left me unable to see, I took a two year sabbatical from taking pictures. The sabbatical pushed me to view art and photography in a completely new and fresh perspective, inculcating installations into the way.
What do you wish to communicate through your art?
Through my art, I like to convey subtle hints at feeling a deeper sense of freedom and peace for the viewers.
Your Platform moment.
My last show Upamana this past February. It was the show that took the the longest for us to plan and putting it out there felt like a ‘Platform Moment’. ///
Words Platform Desk
Date 14.06.2024
