Past Exhibition
EnglishABOUT 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.
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 | |
| 2022 | Yours in Truth, Space 118 Mumbai |
| 2021-2023 | Because It Makes Me Feel, National Gallery Singapore |
| 2021 | Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Art Central, Hong Kong |
| 2020 | Vessels of Change, The Columns Gallery, Singapore |
| 2019 | Mind(less) Wilderness, Miaja Gallery (in collaboration with Ikkan Art Gallery),Singapore |
| 2019 | Rejects, The Substation, Singapore |
| 2019 | Rules of Engagement, The Substation, Singapore |
| 2019 | Ethno-city, a two-person show at NPE Gallery, Singapore |
| 2019 | From Lost Roots to Urban Meadows, a two-person show at The Private Museum, Singapore |
| 2017-2018 | Forest Weft, City Warp, One East Asia, Singapore |
| 2017 | From the Ocean to the Silver City, Australian High Commission, Singapore |
| 2017 | OpenArt 2017, Orebro Biennale, Orebro, Sweden |
| 2017 | Imaginarium: To the Ends of the Earth, 8Q Singapore Art Museum, Singapore |
| 2017 | Multi, One East Asia, Singapore |
| 2016 | Fundacio L’Olivar, Caralonia, Spain |
| 2016 | Untapped, Chan Hampe Gallery, Singapore |
| 2016 | Repurposing Nostalgia, Singapore |
| 2015 | Exploring BigCi, Hawkesbury Regional Gallery, Windsor, NSW, Australia |
| 2015 | The Essential Rhythm 2, Two-person show at Instinc, Singapore |
| 2015 | Art Discovered, Art Fellas, Singapore |
| 2015 | The Material of Time, Flaneur Gallery, Singapore |
| 2014 | The Ground, Bilpin International Ground for Creative Initiatives (BigCI), NSW, Australia |
| 2012 | Beyond Limits ??Praxis Space, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore |