NMA @ NID

New Media Art (NMA) at the National Institute of Design (NID) exhibition is a culmination of a three-week workshop for New Media Design graduate students at NID in Ahmedabad, India, July 10-28, 2006. The workshop was conducted by Tom R. Chambers. The no-constraints workshop encouraged self-expression through computer technology within a Fine Arts context.

According to Chambers, art created via New Media should follow traditional conventions in the sense of appreciation for existing foundations and their various Art Movements. He has tried to instill this within the workshop process, and an overview of the exhibition sees an emotional component and search for truth that permeate the Fine Arts.

This view shows Devyani Arya's "The Unsung Heroes" (ode to the software developer) far left, Pallavi Kulkarni's "Plastic: India's boon or scourge" foreground center, Eva's "Kaleidoscope" far center [beyond post], Shweta Grampurohit's "Black or White" foreground right and Basangouda Inamdar's "Yin-Yang and Ping Pong" far right. The prints (Untitled series) to the left near the windows are by Lakshmi Kumar.

This view shows Ruchira Parihar's "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" foreground right, Gayatri Sathe's "Veiled" center and Abhishek Shrivastava's "A city next to me" (projection) far left. The prints ("Impressions - G") to the right near the windows are by Gayatri Sathe.

This closer view shows Devyani Arya's "The Unsung Heroes" [ode to the software developer] left, Tom R. Chambers' (workshop instructor) "Kites for Gandhi" center and Eva's "Kaleidoscope" far right. The print mosaic and print to the right are by Eva.

This view is a slightly different perspective from photo one to give an overview of the installation. The print (Untitled) far center near the windows is by Ruta Potnis.

This closer view shows Shweta Grampurohit's "Black or White" foreground left, Eva's "Kaleidoscope" far center and Basangouda Inamdar's "Yin-Yang and Ping Pong" far right.

This view shows Arul Prabhu's "Fear of the unknown" (projection) far left and Devyani Arya's "The Unsung Heroes" (ode to the software developer) foreground center. Lakshmi Kumar's untitled series of prints are seen far right near the windows.

This closer view shows Abhishek Shrivastava's "A city next to me" (projection) far left and Gayatri Sathe's "Veiled" center and her print near the windows.

This closer view shows Eva's "Kaleidoscope" foreground center with her print mosaic and other print near the windows.

A design faculty member is seen viewing Tom R. Chambers' "Kites for Gandhi". Lakshmi Kumar's untitled series of prints is seen far center near the windows.

Alam Couturier, French Liaison for India-France programming events and the individual who officially opened the exhibition on behalf of the Director of NID is seen to the left viewing one of the works. The NID student in the foreground is seen interacting with Shweta Grampurohit's "Black or White" to explore the possibilities of creating his own compositions.

Three NID students are seen viewing the time-based art works. They are wearing headphones to be able to relate the visuals to their respective audio for an immersive experience. Ruta Potnis' prints are seen far left near the windows, and Abhishek Shrivastava's "A city next to me" (projection) is seen far center.

Tom R. Chambers, workshop instructor, is seen talking to two of the New Media Design graduate students, Ruchira Parihar (center) and Ruta Potnis (right).

Group photo at the opening: standing left to right: Arul Prabhu, Pallavi Kulkarni, Devyani Arya, Shweta Grampurohit, Tom R. Chambers, Alam Couturier, NID faculty, Lakshmi Kumar, Ruchira Parihar, Eva, Abhishek Shrivastava and Basangouda Inamdar; kneeling left to right: Gayatri Sathe and Ruta Potnis.

Most of the work on exhibit is time-based or art in motion with some interactivity (Connective Art) and static representation via print. Prabhu's projection of apprehension through Inamdar's take on internal conflict show a surprising maturity of the works on display, particularly since this is the first time for this group of students to pursue self-expression this way.

And Chambers feels that they (the students) have avoided "gimmicks" and "trends" that seem to dominate the attempt of making art in a New Media sense. He considers much of New Media that claims to be art to be nothing more than "blogging", a maze of aptitude exercises and over-intellectualization with little to no concern for aesthetics and the emotional state.

NID New Media Design graduate students: Devyani Arya, Shweta Grampurohit, Basangouda Inamdar, Pallavi Kulkarni, Lakshmi Kumar, Ruchira Parihar, Ruta Potnis, Arul Prabhu, Gayatri Sathe, Abhishek Shrivastava and Eva.

Read the students' descriptive text about their art works.

Click on player to the left to view a video of the installation.

The above video of the NMA@NID exhibition was a part of the "Screening" event at "CeC/CaC 2007", 2nd Carnival of e-Creativity & Change-agents Conclave, February 9-10-11, 2007, New Delhi, India.