Informed by my material (clay),  I respond to and reflect on  spaces and places that I find myself in, both physically and emotionally.  Madhvi Subrahmanian

 

A contemporary artist with a predominant focus on clay, Madhvi’s practice is informed, defined and transformed by the transitions of her peripatetic life and her interest in pushing the boundaries of her material.  

 

Madhvi started her career in the studio of Ray Meeker and Deborah Smith at Golden Bridge Pottery in Pondicherry in 1985 where she developed an intimate connection with her material. Her practice deepened through her MFA in 1992-93 at Meadows School of the Arts, Dallas TX.

 

In 2002, her 7ft large scale interactive ceramic work was shown on the pavement outside the National Gallery of Modern art in Mumbai. Madhvi’s interest in public spaces has resulted in numerous works installed in several public/private spaces.  During the pandemic, Liminal Space started her series of exploration using raw clay in public space. Liminal Space: NYC, layers one cultural code over another with kolam like drawings using clay slip around gum marks on the pavement in New York City. In 2021, she was invited to make a temporary installation at a bus stop in Singapore and in 2022 a permanent work in metal titled Birds Eye View at the Bangalore Airport T2 consisting of two panels 40ft x 20ft each. Her upcoming projects include a public artwork for a subway station in Singapore.

 

An interest in performatively engaging her audience  has led to an exploration in participatory works. In works such as Rolling Pins and Forest, from her 2017 solo at Gallery Chemould, Mumbai and Pandemic Pills, 2021, Singapore; she invites her audience to connect with the work and complete it through their participation.  

 

Among the biennales and triennials, she has been invited to are IOTA2021, Perth, Australia, Gyeonggi International Ceramic Biennale 2019, Korea, Indian Ceramics Triennale, 2018, Jaipur, India, China Ceramic Biennale, 2016, Henan Museum, China and Jakarta Ceramic Biennale, 2014, Jakarta, Indonesia.  

 

Madhvi’s works are in several institutional collections such as India Heritage Centre, Singapore, Fule India Museum, China and Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Centre, Japan as well as  numerous private collections. 

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 Madhvi lives and works in Singapore and is represented by Gallery Chemould Prescott Road in Mumbai.