Love Me, Love My Dog at India Art Fair
by Viraj Khanna
6 - 28 February 2025
Khakha Paintings
Khakha is a perforated paper used to transfer designs onto fabric by dusting charcoal powder, serving as a guide for embroidery. Viraj has been exposed to the processes of fashion design and embroidery since a young age. For his artistic practice, the khakha is central to his creative vision and serves as a critical bridge between conception and creation.
Embroidery, by its nature, is structured and deliberate, with individual stitches meticulously forming a cohesive image. The artist’s vision must be predetermined, while skilled artisans translate it onto cloth with precision. In this series, however, Viraj uses the khakha to break free from these constraints. On canvas, the paint that seeps through the needle holes create a unique imprint—never uniform, always fluid. This unpredictability grants him the freedom to shift from participant to creator, allowing the work to take shape in the moment.
The spontaneity and fluidity of the medium invite him to follow his instincts, expressing himself through color or its deliberate absence. Little can be predetermined; much of the art is formed on the spot. Here, the act of making takes precedence over the final outcome.
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