As an Indian feminist artist, my ceramic works explore the fragmented nature of the female body, a fragmentation perpetuated by the gaze. Influenced by patriarchal societies that have historically objectified the female form, I draw inspiration from narratives, popular culture, and media.
My pieces respond to the unsolicited comments I have received about my body, offering insights into the pervasive objectification of women. Through the medium of ceramics, I engage in subverting the gaze, commenting on the struggle for bodily autonomy within patriarchal constructs.
Nandini Chandavarkar is a ceramic artist and visual designer based in India. She holds a degree in Visual Communication from Srishti Institute of Art, Design & Technology, and an MA in Ceramics from Cardiff School of Art and Design in the UK. Chandavarkar’s journey into ceramics began during an advanced pottery programme under the mentorship of artists Élodie Alexandre and Reyaz Badaruddin, marking the inception of her dedicated practice in the medium.
Passionate about integrating her visual arts background with clay, Chandavarkar explores personal and political narratives centred around the female body, contributing to contemporary ceramics discourse. Her affinity for clay as a medium stems from its ability to document her lived experiences, drawing parallels between the material and the body when viewed as an object.
Her current research delves into the visual representations and interpretations of female tropes from Indian mythology. Recognised as a promising talent, Chandavarkar was featured among 2023’s fresh craft graduates by Craft Council Magazine UK and served as a student demonstrator at the International Ceramics Festival hosted by Aberystwyth Arts Centre (UK). She has addressed these themes in several shows in India and Wales (UK). Her work has recently been featured in Ceramics Now, a leading independent art publication specialising in contemporary ceramics.
