Working in Isolation: One Artist in Dehli Finds More Space in Her Compositions

Most artists work in relative isolation.  Our collective art practices and the creative process demands it.  It goes against the human urge to congregate and socialize.  Still, we persevere as the 'call to create' nudges us.  We then deliberately make space - intellectually, emotionally and physically. We move forward quietly, with the intention and faith in the process.

Never have we been more aware of isolation than time spent in this Corona Virus pandemic environment. It is not our choice, but as artists we are familiar and in some ways ahead of the game over our fellow citizens by our familiarity and relative comfort with the loneliness of self -containment.  

Artist Ritu Aggarwal in Dehli India, shares her experience with making art during this distressing and complicated  time. 

Before the Pandemic:

Ritu Aggarwal       City Scape 4        Acrylic on canvas    48" x 48"

During the Pandemic:

Ritu Aggarwal     Silent Spaces      Mixed Media and Acrylic on Canvas      48" x 48"

1) How has your work shifted during the pandemic? Has it been a change in the process of your creating art? The mediums you use? The themes or concepts you are thinking about?

Before the pandemic,  my  geometrical spaces or architectural forms on the canvas were a little crowded and in a single medium. Also the color scheme was quit bold with dark tones but during the pandemic my work shifted to quite minimal. Now I have found some spaces in the composition. The color schemes  have also shifted to lighter tones  and with mixed media. Due to the lockdown the daily working situation has changed. There is no opportunity to go out to see the world physically, so this has also been a good time to do my art work more patiently.

During the pandemic I was surprised I found the environment and atmosphere around me more clean, peaceful and silent . Everything  seems to be connected with nature and breathable.  And this gave me the new theme “Silent Spaces” for my upcoming works.  Now my new works are not as crowded as before.

2) What have you discovered about yourself as an artist during this pandemic?

When I came to know about this challenging pandemic situation, initially, I got scared but I decided to spend my time creating. Gradually I discovered that the natural world around me is recovering due to lockdown as pollution has lessened. Delhi is a very populated and polluted global city and I have lived here for the past 28 years and have suffered from asthma.

Art work has  always been a meditation for me then a profession , so in this current situation of 

pandemic it helped me a lot to remain calm and positive though I have lost so many opportunities. I 

think if one looses  something , one  gets other new opportunities .  Alexander Graham Bell Quotes- 

When one door closes, another opens. So new doors of online shows and other opportunities

have opened. We  are learn more in this helpless situation. My way of working has changed . I am

doing little research works , searching new mediums for my experimentations etc.

3) What have been your biggest challenges working in isolation? Surprises?

My home is my studio and my studio is my home. Before the pandemic I used to work either at my home in isolation or in Triveni ( institution) with other artists which was  quite interesting as there was always a positive environment.  But due to the pandemic I stuck only to my home with my family which is quite distracting during my creative time. I am not getting enough ”alone time” for painting as this is a basic need of an artist, I think. The thinking process in isolation is necessary for creating art.

My family is not particularly interested in art so this is a big challenge for me. I am discouraged as it is unlikely that there will be an art market for the next couple of years, but I will continue to make art.

Ritu Aggarwal's Instagram link is : artistritu17