Cultural Barn: Artist Feature X Vaidehi Kinkhabwala

About the Artist
Vaidehi Kinkhabwala is a Multidisciplinary Artist who grew up in India. She lives and works in New York City. Bi-cultural experiences, gender disparity and struggle ensuing from transition to America have fundamentally shaped her recent work.

Artist Statement
Portraits of Men – Rooster Series
This series is a set of metaphorical portraits of the men I have known in my life. Growing up, women have typically been the ones on display. They are oppressed and do not have a voice to express themselves fully. These portraits are my way of alternating the cultural dynamic I am so used to seeing, instead placing the men on exhibit. The men represented in these portraits are unaware that they are being displayed.

An insight to the artist’s creative process/ practice:

“Somewhere beyond the iris in the eye, everything sizzles and
sometimes, amidst this sizzling, a spark releases and connects to one particular form, leading to many more connections, setting all that surrounds in motion, giving a direction.”

Art for me is a reflection of this human condition that no one person or piece is ever truly complete. As a child who grew up in a family trading in Indian textiles, i have always had an intense personal relationship with the themes of ethnicity and popular culture which have become the base of my forms and motif vocabulary. Bi-cultural experiences, struggle ensuing from transition to america  and gender disparity have fundamentally shaped my recent work. A huge part of my process involves constantly sketching what i see and observe – from soul searching moments to mundane ones.

Links to Instagram & Website 

Website: https://www.vaidehikinkhabwala.com/

Instagram: @vaidehikinkhabwala