Knowningness - Presence of unknown within known, Nippon Art Gallery

Harshda Nirgun, an alumni of J.J. Schools of Fine Arts is conducting a solo Exhibition at Nippon Art Gallery, near Kala Ghada, Mumbai from 10th to 15th December 2019. The exhibition is free for entry and is based on experiences of life, natural harmony, womanhood and growth of society .The artist aspires to increase awareness and maximum inclusion of people from different age group to experience, understand and spread the message.

My artwork captures glimpses of the current state we live in, the visuals that I believe to shake us to our core and awaken our restrained emotions. It’s linked with my life experiences and my identity in our society.

Artist : Harshda Sadanand Nirgun

When I am in the process of creation I tune with my inner self, work with my intuitions, everything in my surroundings gets blurred and I just deep dive with myself, add colour to my feelings and express it,  its not always planned,  it just happens. My artwork is similar to an onion, layers upon layers covering the inner emotions. My efforts are to express everything I see, the myriad waves that I feel and try to collate them in my artworks. At times I also detach from myself and observe it as a third person, it kind of makes you think and new perspectives and answers just reach out to me.

Being an Artist one doesn't have to perform any kind of stunts it should be your experiences, feelings and your way of expression. It doesn't have to be in particular way or adulterated with outer manifestations. It has to be open and free of any glass ceilings and limitations.

Other mind jolting work is my Street art for Kalaghoda installation based on Corruption. I have installed a life size match box, with sides made of currency bundle. There is only one stick standing symbolic of an individual’s fight while Inside of the matchbox are burned sticks that came in contact and burned due to the friction of the never ending greed of “human want”. This artwork was inspired from a real-life event in my kitchen which I  related with the corruption and greed in the society.

My other works are related to human relations from women’s perspective. Women is the giver of life and it’s linking with mother earth. How in the name of progress we are disturbing the natural balance of other animals and birds and destroying the beautiful nature in our surroundings.

Regarding my current solo exhibition in Mumbai

The very existence of any particular thing, living or non-living, is in its existence within that time, it’s the momentariness, the fleeting moment that lets us glance the substance of life. The interrelated expression, the flash realisation, the static imprints. It’s outer conditions and surging inner situation merged in the state of trance, that evolve out of it. Unspecific certainty with its own grace  without any external force acting on it.

There is an outer shield, which hides the core idea engrossed in captivated experiences. Nothing to oppose, nothing to support, as it cannot be shared or explained. Those endless stories, travel, brief moments, that eagerness and its volume can only be felt.

My artwork captures these glimpses of the current state we live in, the visuals that I believe to shake us to our core and awaken our restrained emotions. It's linked with my life experiences and my identity in our society. 

Few more of my works in the current exhibition:

v Living Halt:

An interactive installation where you can actually stand amidst the scaffolds and experience a Halt at a construction site. Architecture has a life too, it’s state continually changes as it endures external elements and requires routine maintenance just as our skin.

v Parallel I:

Three adjoining spheres depict parallel memories of past, present, and future. Living and breathing without knowing each other like insects crawling in their own little world, unknown of the nearby worlds but connected in space.

v Parallel ll:

Play of shadows, objects with multiple overlaps, changing their forms with moving light source with passing of time.

v Under construction Bride:

Photograph of myself in a green construction cloth as saree, keeping Indian 'Ghoongat', it's new development in progress on old roots, progressing ahead and restructuring for better future.

v Inside out:

A glasswork displayed with metallic Lotus. To know yourself inside-out the blissful inner core and the flow of energy within, transforming and evolving through different experiences.

v Reality Check:

A rusted Lotus symbolizing the transition period of a city from old to the present progressive state leaving it's murky scent behind as it transforms.

v Esteem:

The composition consists of construction worker’s hands signifying hardship that goes into making others dreams a reality and keeping their younger generation alive.

v Dream Home:

Creation of personal-space to dwell is a structuring of our own physical and mental space. 

v Noise:

A visual noise of construction and continuous reengineering of the surrounding that overlaps and blocks the tranquil chirp of a ‘City bird’

v Reach:

Constant human interference effects the navigation of migratory and local birds. They get stressed and disturbed by heavy noise pollution created in the city area. A composition with the mating call of Cuckoo bird is suppressed by cement mixture machines and road roller.

No one teaches you art it comes from within though I am an academic Masters  in fine arts from Mumbai. I have always found different ways and mediums to  experiment and express my work. Looking forward to inspire young minds to respect mother earth, women, expand their thoughts beyond the horizon and include everyone in their growth.

Nippon Gallery

Deval Chambers 30/32

2nd Floor, Flora Fountain

Nanabhai Lane, Kala Ghoda

Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001