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, Dubai 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, Nominee C/O Berlin Talent Award, C/O Berlin 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
- 2020, Book Building Residency with Dayanita Singh, Goa
- 2019, Book Building Residency with Dayanita Singh, Goa
- 2018, South Asia Incubator I, Photo Kathmandu, Kathmandu
- 2016, 12th Angkor Photo Workshops, Siem Reap
Seminars
- 2018, Critical assessment and dialogue, PIX quarterly, Institut Francais, Delhi
- 2015, PEERS Share 2015, Khoj International artists’ association, Delhi
- 2014, Frameworks, PIX quarterly, Goethe Institut, Mumbai
Education
- 2020 – Present, MFA in Studio Art, The University of Texas, Austin
- 2015 – 2016, International Photography Program, Pathshala South Asian Media Institute, Dhaka
- 2005 – 2009, Film & Video Communication Design, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
- 2008, Exchange programme, École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Paris
- 1991 – 2005, Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai
Scholarship
- 2020, Russell Lee Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Photography, The University of Texas, Austin
- 2008, ÉGIDE Scholarship, École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs, Paris
Exhibitions
- 2021, “ka Dingiei”, Chobimela International Festival of Photography, Dhaka
- 2021, “ka Dingiei”, Growing like a Tree, Ishara Art Foundation, Dubai
- 2019, “ka Dingiei”, Artists Unite!, Delhi
- 2019, “Items”, Catalyst, Jimei x Arles Photo Festival, Xiamen
- 2019, “Ahp”, Embracing Complexity and Uncertainty, PH Museum
- 2019, “Ahp”, Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai
- 2019, “Ahp”, Opening Projections, Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap
- 2017, “ka Dingiei”, Egaro Photo Festival, Agartala
- 2017, “ka Dingiei”, Alumni Projections, Angkor Photo Festival, Siem Reap
- 2017, “Items”, A Million Mutinies Later - India at 70, Nazar Foundation, Ffotogallery, Cardiff
- 2015, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody, Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo
- 2015, “Stalked: scars in time & space Zine”, The BIND PhotoBook Library, Focus Photography Festival, Mumbai
- 2014, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody, The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Goethe-Institut, Kolkata
- 2014, “Items”, PIX Vol.9, Embody, Goethe- Institut, Bangalore
- 2013, “Items”, Mirror of the Open Road, The Wilding Festival, London