“In my perspective, the entire archival collection [displayed in “Shadows Dance Within the Archives”] reaffirms the narrative of how Chicago has served as a melting pot for diverse cultural expressions and continues to fortify its position in the world.” — Chicago-based artist Amay Kataria
Regan Dockery of Newcity interviewed artist Amay Kataria about his contributions to South Asia Institute’s exhibition What Is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago.
Kataria participated in a community meeting early in the development of the exhibition, which resulted in his contribution of material from his past exhibitions that are displayed in the archival section of the exhibition. Additionally, his work is featured in the contemporary portion of the show, which looks toward the future.
Kataria’s artistic process as a creative technologist is manifest in his pieces such as “Timegrapher,” which is presented in the contemporary portion of the exhibition, “Are Shadow Bodies Electric?” While time has been a key area of exploration in his work, environment has also played a role in Kataria’s evolution as an artist.
“Chicago has been instrumental in shaping my artistic journey…Having a studio at Mana Chicago has been pivotal in refining my practice, while also immersing me in a bustling community of artists, who have continued to support me. This exposure has opened numerous avenues to exhibit and share my work within the city.”
