About
Aishwarya Arumbakkam (b.1988) is an artist interested in mythology and cultural narratives. Her engagement with Visual Arts started with Design and Filmmaking, followed by Photography. She has exhibited her work in India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, China and the UK. She was selected as one of the ‘Ones to Watch’ by British Journal of Photography in 2019. In 2020, she was awarded the Magnum Foundation 'Photography and Social justice' Fellowship. Originally from Chennai, she’s currently based in Austin where she's pursuing an MFA in Studio Art.
Resume
Grants, Awards
- 2020, 'Photography and Social Justice Fellowship', Magnum Foundation
- 2020, Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo Foundation
- 2019, Featured as 'Ones to Watch 2019', British Journal of Photography
- 2019, Nominated for Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo Foundation
- 2019, Recipient of ‘The Umrao Singh Sher-Gil Grant for Photography 2019’ for the work “ka Dingiei”
- 2018, Nominated for 6x6 Global Talent Program - Asia edition, World Press Photo Foundation
- 2018, TOTO Funds the Arts, Tasveer Emerging Photographer of the year
Residencies, Workshops
- March 2020, Book Building Residency with Dayanita Singh, Goa
- March 2019, Book Building Residency with Dayanita Singh, Goa
- November 2018, South Asia Incubator I, Photo Kathmandu, Kathmandu
- December 2016, 12th Angkor Photo Workshops, Siem Reap
- July-August 2015, What About Art Residency, What About Art?, Mumbai
Seminars
- February 2018, Critical assessment and dialogue, PIX quarterly, Institut Francais, Delhi
- June 2015, PEERS Share 2015, Khoj International artists’ association, Delhi
- February 2014, Frameworks, PIX quarterly, Goethe Institut, Mumbai
Education
- August 2020 – Ongoing, MFA in Studio Art, The University of Texas, Austin
- October 2015 – March 2016, International Photography Program, Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Dhaka
- June 2005 – October 2009, Film & Video Communication Design, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
- January 2008 – May 2008, Exchange programme, École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Paris
- June 1991 – March 2005, Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai
Scholarship
- August 2020, Russell Lee Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Photography, The University of Texas, Austin
- January 2008 – May 2008, ÉGIDE Scholarship, École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Paris
Exhibitions
- November 2019, “Ahp”, Opening Projections, Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap
- November 2019, “Items”, ‘Catalyst’ Jimei x Arles Photo Festival, Xiamen
- July 2019, “Ahp”, Embracing Complexity and Uncertainty, PH Museum
- March 2019, “ka Dingiei”, Artists Unite!, Delhi
- February 2019, “Ahp”, Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai
- December 2017, “ka Dingiei”, Egaro Photo Festival, Agartala
- December 2017, “ka Dingiei”, Alumni Projections, Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap
- July 2017, “Items”, A Million Mutinies Later - India at 70,Curated by Nazar Foundation, Ffotogallery, Cardiff
- July 2015, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody- The Gender Issue, Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo
- March 2015, “Stalked: scars in time & space Zine”, The BIND PhotoBook Library, Focus Photography Festival, Mumbai
- November 2014, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody- The Gender Issue, The Seagull Foundation for the Arts in association with Goethe-Institut, Kolkata
- September 2014, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody- The Gender Issue, Goethe- Institut, Bangalore
- June 2013, “Items”, Mirror of the Open Road Exhibition, The Wilding Festival, London