Suman Gujral
MY PRACTICE
"I have come to feel that events, personal and external, leave their traces on us, the past casts its shadows or light onto the present and our future as individuals and as a planet is shaped by it."
Suman Gujral 2019
MY PRACTICE
"I have come to feel that events, personal and external, leave their traces on us, the past casts its shadows or light onto the present and our future as individuals and as a planet is shaped by it."
Suman Gujral 2019
MY PRACTICE
My research into the history of printmaking in India revealed to me the impact of the 1947 Partition of India on all aspects of life on the sub-continent and on my own family's history which inspired a deeper interest in the effect of local and global traumas on individuals and communities. This led to my current work on the migrant crisis and its roots.
These issues can be painful to think about but I believe that artists are in a unique position to act as agents for change by provoking conversations through our work. I make abstract work, stemming from my own response but which can be interpreted by the viewer from their own perspective.
These issues can be painful to think about but I believe that artists are in a unique position to act as agents for change by provoking conversations through our work. I make abstract work, stemming from my own response but which can be interpreted by the viewer from their own perspective.
These issues can be painful to think about but I believe that artists are in a unique position to act as agents for change by provoking conversations through our work. I make abstract work, stemming from my own response but which can be interpreted by the viewer from their own perspective.
The privilege of the artist is to imagine what cannot be imagined
Nora A.Taylor 2014
PROCESS AND MATERIALITY
PROCESS AND MATERIALITY
PROCESS AND MATERIALITY
The materials and processes I use underscore my themes. Lately, I have worked principally with printmaking techniques, following a long tradition of print being used as a medium for protest. I am currently working mainly with etching and monoprint. For me, etching echoes how personal and global events leave their traces on us: the acid creates intentional and accidental marks on the plate as life does on us, changing our landscape and giving us new maps to navigate with.
Monoprint allows me to make expressive, spontaneous works, that have a lot of light and movement within them. I have also introduced book making processes to reflect the fact that I am telling a story.
I use artist quality papers from India, Japan, Italy and the UK for their different qualities and symbolism. Khadi paper features heavily because it reflects my roots.
The action of acid on the zinc plates that I use fascinates me and recently, I have started to show the plates as works in themselves.
I use artist quality materials so the work retains its integrity over time. My inks are lightfast and I use non-toxic and environmentally friendly materials as much as I can.
