Behind the Canvas
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Exploring the Artist’s Journey at TARQ, Mumbai
At first glance, an artist’s work may appear as a final, polished product—an end result crafted from imagination and skill. But what lies beneath the surface of a painting, a sculpture, or a mixed-media installation? What ideas sparked its birth, and what process nurtured it into form? These are the questions that the ongoing exhibition The Artist As at TARQ, Mumbai, dares to ask and beautifully answers.
Curated by Vaidehi Gohil and Sonakshi Bhandari, The Artist As invites visitors to delve into the unseen, often overlooked stages of artistic creation. Rather than merely celebrating finished works, the exhibition shines a light on the artistic journey—one filled with research, repetition, experimentation, failure, and eventually, realization. The show seeks to reframe the perception of artists, portraying them not just as creators, but as multifaceted individuals who assume the roles of thinkers, storytellers, collectors, architects, observers, and more.
Bringing together all 18 artists represented by TARQ, this exhibition is a deeply collaborative and revealing effort. Featured names include Areez Katki, Vishwa Shroff, Rithika Merchant, Ronny Sen, Pratap Morey, Sameer Kulavoor, and Saubiya Chashmawala, among others. Each artist’s section offers a distinct and personal window into their process. Visitors will find artworks presented not in isolation, but alongside the paraphernalia that birthed them—research notes, reference images, books, tools, journals, and even discarded drafts.
This approach creates a unique viewing experience. Rather than moving from artwork to artwork in detached admiration, viewers are encouraged to slow down, to absorb not just what is on the wall but also what surrounds it. A painting may be accompanied by a page from a sketchbook, scribbled with quick ideas and annotations. A photograph might sit beside the notebook that documented the artist’s field visits. These additions enrich the story of the final piece, offering insights into the artist’s mind, methods, and motivations.
For instance, Sameer Kulavoor’s graphic sensibilities find balance between structure and spontaneity in his works, and seeing his tools and preliminary visuals adds new dimensions to his finished pieces. Vishwa Shroff’s architectural drawings, already known for their intricate detail and sensitivity to space, are further enhanced by the notes and studies that precede them. Rithika Merchant’s symbolic imagery becomes even more powerful when placed in the context of the myths and texts that inspired it.
In presenting the artist as more than just a ‘maker,’ the curators offer a reframing of what artistic labor looks like. It’s not confined to the studio or to the moment of creation. It spans moments of observation during a walk, hours spent reading obscure texts, conversations held in passing, and daydreams that manifest into form. This exhibition reveals how artists gather, collect, and stitch together experiences and ideas, often functioning as researchers, historians, designers, and even archivists.
The Artist As is a timely and thoughtful tribute to the evolving identity of the contemporary artist. In a world increasingly driven by outcome and immediacy, the exhibition advocates for process and patience. It reminds us that behind every image or object we admire lies a labyrinth of thought and effort, often unseen but always essential.
On view at TARQ, KK (Navsari) Chambers, Ground Floor, 39 AK Nayak Marg, Fort, Mumbai, the exhibition continues until August 14, 2025. For those curious about how art truly comes to life, this is a must-visit.
