Born in New Delhi, India, Chetan Singh Kunwar is a visual artist based in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a M.A. in Graphic Design and Visual Experiences, and he currently works as a Senior Designer at Loyalkaspar. Chetan’s work explores the relationship of digital versus tactile, expressed in a range of styles from digital illustrations to hand-tufted rugs and everything in between. Whether on the screen with graphic design and illustrations, or with yarn for his rugs, Chetan loves creating to see that idea come to life.
Chetan approaches his rug making from a historical point of view. Rugs are a representation of time, telling their stories through intricate patterns and detailed designs. Through this work he hopes to contribute to a new narrative in rug making, one of simple and minimal pieces.
Illustrations by Chetan revolve around the theme of “home” – cozy moments that may remind you of a corner of your own house. Being a temporary citizen and away from family has only made the meaning behind the concept grow stronger. With his illustrations, Chetan merges those thoughts into something more permanent. No matter the medium, he aims to make art that captures moments of his everyday life that evoke personal memories through each viewer’s interpretation.
Today, Chetan Singh Kunwar is joining us for Friday Five!
1. India
You can take the boy out of the country, but not the country out of the boy! For a pair of eyes that have seen and lived in a place like India, I cannot emphasize enough how much it has helped me shape my artistic voice. The colors, the energy, the people, and the mangoes are unmatched.
2. People Watching
For me, an ideal Sunday is grabbing a hot cup of coffee, sitting in Washington Square Park, and just watching people go through their daily lives. I think there’s something really therapeutic seeing so many different personalities come together and interact with each other. It often also presents me with different moments that I can later integrate into my work.
3. Tangibility
I’ve always been a curious kid. I remember going to museums where I was told not to touch the paintings (which I always wanted to). I feel it’s a different experience altogether when the sense of touch is involved. With my body of work, I make art that encourages people to experience it, not only through their eyes but also through the textures.
4. Vlogs
I love watching daily vlogs, people doing mundane things. I think it’s really interesting to get a peek into someone else’s life only to realize that everyone is living pretty much the same way, yet so differently.
5. Chiharu Shiota
For people who aren’t familiar with that name, Chiharu Shiota is a Japanese visual artist who leans on interweaving materiality and psychic perception of the space to explore ideas around the body and personal narratives. There’s only one word to describe Chiharu’s work – magnificent. I’ve never felt the way I felt when I saw her work for the first time. Her work took me on a visual journey about her past, her memories, and reflections of her body. It’s the scale and unexpected theatrics that get to you.