Viraj Mithani

My studio work and my personal experiences are inextricably intertwined and sometimes contradictory. Spiritual and violent, natural and plastic, attached and detached—they all coexist in me. You can’t search a soul by dissecting a heart, but only by connecting with it.

This thesis is organised in three parts, which correspond to the three learning structures that inform my painting—inherited/experiential learning, academic learning, and tangential learning. I describe all three in a collection of narratives, reflections on cultural phenomena, and interpretations that seek to reclaim marginalised histories.  I want to shine a light on the intersectionality between academic art, global art histories, intergenerational artists, and arts professionals. I find a lot of inspiration in activities that are pursued outside the studio that contribute to my process while making work. The art of bridling and handling reins to create drawings with lyrical lines. There are constant parallels to be found. I have incorporated findings from peers, critics, visiting artists, and faculty, chronicling their critical response to my work.