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Do you remember when, in school, we were challenged to place incoherent chunks of differently coloured paper together in a manner that was not only appealing but also made complete (or near-complete) sense?
It is likely that this art form of collage work was introduced to you at a young age, probably, as a way of pushing us to use our imagination to create art out of something that once existed as its own entity. We saw how little bits of paper and colour could lend each other their appeal, and also purpose – almost like different pieces of a complex puzzle that seem to accommodate each other perfectly despite being so varied in size and shape.
Maintaining that all-important intent of collage work is Ayushi Chaurasia who works with both digital and analogue collages and often experiments with animation too. An amalgamation of various visual aspects, Ayushi’s collages are able to create meaning from seemingly dissimilar objects. Much of her art stems from a personal space but conveys meanings that resonate with others as well.
She explains, “My works conjure magical spaces where laws of earthly physics do not apply. One will always find a looming yet delicate feminine presence in my artworks. One will find a lot of futurism but only imagined in medieval aesthetics.”
When she was just five years old, Ayushi was gifted Chestnut Grey, an illustrated retelling of Russian folklore by her mother. This opened up doors to the concept of narratives and illustrations for her – some of which she still pulls out of her pocket in her work.
Since then, her work, which continues to be influenced by multiple facets of life, has evolved considerably. She now stitches together art from separate pieces to create a singular and valuable product. It’s as if her imagination is unhinged but also knows how to practice restraint wherever needed.
“My style takes a lot of inspiration from Buddhist synoptic and mono-scenic narrative styles first used in the relief sculptures and murals by the ancient artists for Bharhut Stupa, Sanchi Stupa and Ajanta caves,” she elaborates. Additionally, the Jataka Tales, which explore Buddha’s previous lives, plays a role in her works.
“I am always cooking stories in my head, obsessing over ideas, thoughts or people. My collages are a way of supporting my absurd notions and stories with visual aid and vice versa,” she says as she sheds light on her creative process — and truly, how else would one create visceral artwork, if not in a continuous state of out-of-body imagination?
Explore Ayushi’s work here.
You can also find her on Instagram here.
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