Varunika Saraf (born 19 December 1981, in Nagpur, Maharashtra) and now based in Hyderabad[1] is an Indian contemporary painter who seeks to bare the reality of violence often drawing attention historical and political realities and injustices in India.[2]

Varunika Saraf
Varunika Saraf in her studio
Born (1981-12-19) 19 December 1981 (age 42)
NationalityIndian
Alma materCollege Of Fine Arts, Hyderabad
Known forPainting Embroidery Miniature Art
Notable workWe, The People

Art practice

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Saraf's main material is Wasli, an ancient Indian paper for detailed painting and hand-ground pigments made in her studio.[3] The artist employs colour as a form of abstraction to attract viewers to the complex details within often massive scale paintings. She also uses miniature art, embroidery,[4] and crochet.

Exhibitions

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Saraf is represented by Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai where she had a solo exhibition in 2021.[5] Her work has been presented at Art Basel (Basel and Hong Kong), Art Dubai and India Art Fair. She has been a part of several solo[6] and group exhibitions[7] in India and abroad.[8]

Public collections

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Varunika Saraf's works are a part of the collections[9] at KNMA, New Delhi; Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai; Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum and Sarmaya Foundation.

Awards and honours

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Saraf received an Honourable Mention from the Sharjah Biennial Prize[10] jury for her series ‘We, The People’ which was a part of the Sharjah Biennale 15 Thinking Historically in the Present. She was also awarded the Asia Society Gamechanger Award (Asia Arts Future Award), 2023,[11] Kashi Award for Visual Arts (KAVA2), 2006 and Shri. SL Parasher Gold Medal, University of Hyderabad, 2006.

References

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  1. ^ Thatipalli, Mallik (March 22, 2024). "Young artists make a mark". Deccan Chronicle.
  2. ^ Fernando, Benita (10 December 2021). ""Political art by artist Varunika Saraf attempts to spell out the current times through images"". Indian Express.
  3. ^ Ayaz, Shaikh (January 27, 2024). "Into the artist's studio: For Varunika Saraf, the studio is a place of record". Mint Lounge.
  4. ^ Rosalyn, D'Mello (October 27, 2023). "Behind artists' embroideries: Varunika Saraf and Nour Shantout on their process". Stir World.
  5. ^ "Varunika Saraf". Chemould Prescott Road. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  6. ^ Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (8 March 2017). ""The miniaturist"". The Hindu.
  7. ^ Singh, Deepali (21 April 2021). ""Indian artists to shine at the Sharjah Biennial 2023"". Mint Lounge.
  8. ^ Devi Dundoo, Sangeetha (June 17, 2020). "Hyderabad artist Varunika Saraf to showcase her work at Heidelberger Kunstverein". The Hindu.
  9. ^ Gupta, Trisha (16 May 2022). ""India Art Fair: Letting the art in"". India Today.
  10. ^ ""Sharjah Biennial 15 Announces Prize Winners"". Art Asia Pacific. 17 February 2023.
  11. ^ Paul, Chokita (March 17, 2023). "Varunika Saraf: 'For the women before me, and after'". Indian Express.

  This article incorporates text by Varunika Saraf available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license. The text and its release have been received by the Wikimedia Volunteer Response Team; for more information, see the talk page.