Timelines

With his debut solo exhibition Timelines, currently on view at Method Kala Ghoda, Ujjwal Agarwal interprets and visualises time and its movement through the medium of a custom-coded computer algorithm furthering a centuries old conversation on the construct of time itself. Timelines is a live animated piece that draws itself based on the current time of the day. The hour() decides the number of horizontal rows, the minute() decides the number of vertical lines and the whole piece’s movement is synced to every second(). Timelines can be classified as a singular creation but its constantly evolving nature raises the impact of time on humankind. It is a constant, yet at the same time, we don't know what it holds in store for us.

Below, the artist gives us further insight into the show.

How were you led towards visual art?
Mum is an oil painter, so I’ve always been surrounded by canvases. I started off as a pencil portrait artist, then moved to graphic design, and now code-based art.

As an artist, are there any particular themes that you gravitate towards exploring?
I am fascinated by the digital aesthetic in general. I don't like to use technology to imitate traditional art styles. I am a digital native with a fresh aesthetic, and I do things that are only possible with code.

Could you give us some insight into the making of your exhibition Timelines?
I call myself KALA. Kal is Hindi for both tomorrow and yesterday. This is a paradox in time. I’ve always been fascinated by clocks, hence my interest in time-based art. Generative art makes it possible to create real time pieces.

Could you acquaint us to any influences, artistic or otherwise, that guided your creation of Timelines?
Timelines has been explored in many different ways as an algorithm for the exhibit. Apart from the actual NFT timepiece, I also worked up some interactive installations for a more immersive gallery experience. I follow quite a few generative artists but nothing or no one in particular influenced this piece as such. I am definitely influenced by the black and white line work of my good friend, Aniruddh Mehta (thebigfatminimalist) and I think it shows in the piece.

What do you hope the viewers take away from this exhibition?
I want them to lose their sense of time for a while. Appreciate how the dynamic movement of timelines actually mimic real life and passage of time as a feeling — slow or fast — it’s relative. Hope everyone who comes over takes a slice of time with them when they leave.

Date 11-04-2023