About
Ruchita Madhok
Selected Exhibitions
2026
‘Mapping Centre and Periphery: A Pan-India Dialogue’ curated by Lina Vincent at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore
‘Filters of Time & Derivation’ curated by Nikhil Purohit at Kamalnayan Bajaj Gallery, Mumbai
2025
‘Director’s Cut’ by Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, online exhibition
‘Edge of Space’ group exhibition curated by Saloni Doshi at Space 118 Foundation, Mumbai
‘Imprinting Justice’ an exhibition of works by the International Print Exchange India, curated by Saad Ghosn, a group show of printmakers at Art Academcy, Cincinati (2025) and at Kamalnayan Bajaj Gallery, Mumbai
2023
‘World Cyanotype Day Exhibition’ by Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai (2023)
Open Call Exhibition at Apre Art House, Mumbai (2023)
2022
‘World Cyanotype Day Exhibition’ by Chennai Photo Biennale, Chennai (2023)
‘Everybody is Showing’ group exhibition at Fluxus Chapel
Special Projects
Part of the New Indian Art Wave as a Kulture Shop artist (2020–2023)
Awards, Residencies & Fellowships
2025 Selected for the Akara Artist Mentorship Programme at Akara Contemporary Gallery, Mumbai
2024 Artist-in-Residence at Spacehouse Himalayas
2013 Fellow of the ARThinkSouthAsia Arts Management programme
2012 Fellow at the UnBox Festival, New Delhi
2010 Artist-in-Residence at Associazione Inteatro, Polverigi, Italy through Central Saint Martins, UK
2003 Awarded the Ratan Tata Scholarship awarded for outstanding excellence in Foundation Studies at
National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
I enjoy playing with light. And the idea of light.
Working in photography, painting and printmaking I look at the ways in which we perceive light – in eyes, mind, body and spirit, and the ways in which we remember light – as images, mythology, language and experience.
My recent cyanotype prints are informed by ancient Indian conceptions of cosmic light. These works draw on symbols, archetypes and geometries described in sacred and philosophical texts. Colour forms a vital element in my work, especially the colour blue. I apply the emotional, cultural and historic associations of blue-ness to expressions of space, sea, sky and water, using sunlight as a catalyst in the conception and execution of works.
I am interested in the fields of astronomy, cosmology and natural history. I often draw from my readings of texts such as the Yogasutras and Upanishads, as well as science writing and contemporary science fiction. My experience in design and scenography juxtaposes with a lifelong love of poetry.
I have been a practicing artist since 2021. I live and work in Mumbai.
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Ruchita Madhok received her M.A. in Scenography from Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, University of the Arts, London and a B.Des. in Communication Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.
She is the Founder of communication design studio Kahani. She is also the publisher of Storycity guides to Mumbai’s heritage and culture. Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Kyoorius, Architectural Digest, Domus India, Vogue, Elle Decor, Platform, Verve and IQ. She is the recipient of the Kyoorius Black Elephant, the CII Design Excellence Award and India’s Best Design Project Awards.
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