s The Columns Gallery

Past Exhibition

English

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Nandita Mukand

(b. 1975, India, lives and works in Singapore)

Nandita Mukand is a Singapore-based artist whose journey intertwines childhood needlework skills, diverse academic pursuits, and a profound connection with nature. Encouraged to master the art of needle and thread in her formative years, Nandita's upbringing in India immersed her in the rich tapestry of indigenous fabrics and needlecraft. Despite societal norms in her small town, she defied expectations by venturing into painting, sketching, and embroidery.

In a cultural landscape where art was considered a hobby rather than a viable career, Nandita navigated her way through engineering and business studies, where she often found herself among a minority of female students. Her academic achievements became a stepping stone to a corporate role with Proctor & Gamble in Singapore. However, the pursuit of corporate success came at the cost of denying her true artistic calling.

Her transformative moment came in 2008 when she chose to follow her heart and become a full-time artist. Enrolling in a Fine Arts degree at the LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, she graduated at the top of her class. Nature became her muse, guiding her exploration of the human resilience and its ability to heal. Her work reflects observations of growth and decay in nature, using materials like medical gauze to symbolize healing for societal wounds passed down through generations.

Nandita's art extends beyond personal experiences; it incorporates cultural influences from her Christian upbringing to the practices of Hindu and Muslim devotees. The symbolic act of tying knots with sacred threads in ancient shrines finds resonance in her work, where millions of tiny knots represent the deepest wishes of individuals, creating a poignant lattice of pain, suffering, hope, and faith.

In her sculptures, she transcends traditional materials, choosing medical gauze over the beautiful fabrics of India, turning them into three-dimensional paintings that embody resilience and adaptation to circumstances. Nandita's unique perspective is shaped by her Christian roots, marriage to a Hindu/Jain, and friendships across diverse faiths and subcultures in both India and Singapore. Her art stands as a testament to the confluence of personal, cultural, and natural influences, inviting viewers into a rich tapestry of experiences.
EDUCATION
1998 B. Tech, Electronics, Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow, India
2000 Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Kolkata, India
2014 BA (Hons) Fine Arts (First Class Honours) Goldsmiths, University of London by LASALLE College of the ARTS, Singapore
EXHIBITION
2022Yours in Truth, Space 118 Mumbai
2021-2023Because It Makes Me Feel, National Gallery Singapore
2021Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Art Central, Hong Kong
2020Vessels of Change, The Columns Gallery, Singapore
2019Mind(less) Wilderness, Miaja Gallery (in collaboration with Ikkan Art Gallery),Singapore
2019Rejects, The Substation, Singapore
2019Rules of Engagement, The Substation, Singapore
2019Ethno-city, a two-person show at NPE Gallery, Singapore
2019From Lost Roots to Urban Meadows, a two-person show at The Private Museum, Singapore
2017-2018Forest Weft, City Warp, One East Asia, Singapore
2017From the Ocean to the Silver City, Australian High Commission, Singapore
2017OpenArt 2017, Orebro Biennale, Orebro, Sweden
2017Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth, 8Q Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
2017Multi, One East Asia, Singapore
2016Fundacio L¡¯Olivar, Caralonia, Spain
2016Untapped, Chan Hampe Gallery, Singapore
2016Repurposing Nostalgia, Singapore
2015Exploring BigCi, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, NSW, Australia
2015The Essential Rhythm 2, Two-person show at Instinc, Singapore
2015Art Discovered, Art Fellas, Singapore
2015The Material of Time, Flaneur Gallery, Singapore
2014The Ground, Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiatives (BigCI), NSW, Australia
2012Beyond Limits ??Praxis Space, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore