SAYAN CHANDA

In clay, Chanda’s Shapeshifters are amalgamations of aniconic representations of deities, Nazar battu (charms to ward off the evil- eye) and vestiges of a fictional civilisation. Coloured with a restricted palette of vermilion, turmeric and Ganga river clay and ash, is to throw focus on the biomorphic forms. Some draw themselves close to the sacrosanct, coated with a soft metallic glaze in reference to the alloy Ashtadhatu used for casting idols in Jain and Hindu temples. Seemingly patinated in parts, the pieces have an antiquated charm as if having borne witness to many lives before.

Chanda’s Kantha folds equally have the past written into them. Made from vintage fabrics, the material holds the worlds of others. Unpicked, flattened and reconfigured, the new geometries expose the fabric’s multiple layers and years of wear. Chanda’s work builds bridges between lived, imagined and past worlds, sensitising the viewer to the proximity of all.

Sayan Chanda (b. 1989, Kolkata, India. Lives and works in London) deploys textile and ceramic techniques in an exploration of indigenous votive and ritual objects. Whether weaving, using found textiles or clay, Chanda creates ambiguous forms that, evocative of talismans, transcend everyday materiality. The pieces channel the artist’s past experiences and in referencing mythological traditions are imbued with majesty.

Press release courtesy Jhaveri Contemporary. Text: Dr. Cleo Roberts-Komireddi.