Born: 1971
Hometown: New Delhi,India
Based in: Singapore
Sunaina is a contemporary artist of Indian origin, who currently lives and works in Singapore. She moved to Tokyo in the late 90’s and has spent the last two decades in various parts of North and South Asia. Having completed her formal education as a textile designer specializing in print, she chose to pursue an immersive education in Nihonga, when living in Japan and spent 5 years working under Ohta-sensei of the Kyoshin-Do school, studying Sumie-e and Nihonga – the traditional Japanese art forms of painting.
Her work revolves around the repetitive and ritualistic nature of gestures and their traces. She explores the transformative effects of the deliberate infliction of pain on the human body during the curative process of alleviating disease and decay. By using industrial materials analogous to the fragile nature of the body, juxtaposed with natural fabric and embroidery, she examines the passage of time and the mark making that documents this process. She use materials like wax, bandages and threads to create 2D and installation works
Sunaina’s has exhibited in Japan, India, Singapore and Europe. Apart from being in the permanent collections of the ESSL Museum, Vienna and Mumbai Airports Authority, India, her works are in various private collections globally. Her solo exhibition of the themed series “The Rising Sun” was sponsored by The Japan Foundation as the art representation for the 50 year celebration of Indo-Japan cultural ties.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by resilience in people. I love the colour White juxtaposed with Black. I love creating small meaningful symbols and motifs and repeating them again and again to create a meditative artwork. This iusually results in a work that is contemplative both for the viewer and for me as I create it.
Describe your creative process.
I begin by thinking about a predominant colour which matches my mood (limited to red, black and white). I then decide how I will express the density of the mood through colour or lack of colour . I draw the outlines of my basic shapes through circles and lines only and then embroider, paint or add on features like the nuts or washers used in some fo these works
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Calming, Contemplative , Repetitive
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Felix Gonzales Torres, Chiharu Shiota, Ranjani Shettar, Zarina Hashmi, Ernesto Neto
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Needle and thread
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
Just keep making! The journey is the discovery and to be able to find pleasure in doing is the most important. Do not worry about the end result. Do your reading, do your exploring and the work will create itself!
Where do you go for inspiration?
I travel as often as I can. New cities and cultures excites me. I love to collect odd bits and bobs
1 Collection