One of the architectural depictions of Malavika
New York-based architect Malavika Madhuraj is preparing for her first show in India, Liminal Lines, Eternal Spaces, an architectural exhibition at the Prussian Blue Art Gallery in Kochi. The show, she says, is “a multidisciplinary journey through architectural illustration, art and digital media that explores the interplay between memory, spatial boundaries and artistic transcendence.” The architect, who works with Studio Gang Architects, New York, graduated from VIT School of Planning and Architecture, Vellore.
The Kochi native earned a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). His work Litany of Dystopia was exhibited at the Roca London Gallery (2023), London; His installation Residues in Rust was exhibited at the Queens Museum (2021), New York; Flaneur, one of his projects was part of the Chennai Architecture Foundation (2019). The show, which begins today, will end on December 29. Architecture inspired her when creating these works, she says, “Architecture has always attracted me for its ability to hold memories and stories in its forms. I am inspired by how places, even after being abandoned or forgotten, retain traces of the people who once lived in them. The interplay of light and shadow on materials, the intricate details of liminal spaces and crevices, and the way people occupy and transform spaces – all these elements influence my work. Architects such as Paul Rudolph, Carlo Scarpa and Cedric Price have deeply shaped my perspective. My pieces often re-imagine spaces that exist only in memory or dreams, blending architectural inspiration from decades past and the emotions that these spaces evoke.
Malavika Madhuraj
His works have a distinct Studio Ghibli feel; She says she is inspired by the storytelling of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. “Every frame of his seems like a world full of life, memory and emotion. His ability to blend fantasy with everyday objects resonates deeply with my approach to architecture and art. I also take inspiration from Studio Ghibli’s color palettes, which balance vibrancy with subtlety to evoke wonder and nostalgia. Like Miyazaki’s world, my works aim to capture the fleeting beauty of places – real or imagined – and the emotions inherent in them, inviting viewers to step into their stories. Although she hasn’t formally studied art, she says, architecture has equipped her with the foundational skills of storytelling, composition and visual representation. “My artistic practice is deeply connected to these principles, allowing me to blur the lines between the technical and the expressive.”
His paintings leave one wondering whether they are real or just a figment of his imagination. “Both. Some of the works are inspired by real places, while others are entirely from my imagination. For example, the depiction of the Center Pompidou in Paris, designed by architects Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, is based on a real place. However, my Many of the places created exist only in the realm of memory or dreams – imaginary places that evoke feelings and stories associated with places we have never seen but somehow feel connected to. and imagination Enjoys mixing how architecture can hold both tangible and intangible stories. As his creative process evolved over the years, he moved from traditional media like drawing and painting to a primarily technology-driven creative process. “It allows me to explore and experiment with precision and flexibility, allowing me to layer intricate details and create compositions. good at Creates that seem both realistic and unreal.
Liminal Lines, Eternal Spaces will conclude on December 29 at Prussian Blue Art Hub (Kochi).
published – December 28, 2024 06:53 am IST
