Viraj Khanna reflects on what he’s learnt (or not) from mother and fashion designer Anamika Khanna

There are so many things that we learn from our mothers. And then are some others that we don't. Bringing these aspects to life is Viraj Khanna -- son of popular fashion designer Anamika Khanna -- whose solo show 'What My Mother Didn’t Teach Me… and Some Things She Did!' builds the narrative using different elements from various magazines, encyclopaedias, and books; My acrylic body, 2021 (26 x 38 inches, Mixed media on canvas) (Source: PR Handout)

In an exclusive interaction with indianexpress.com, Viraj shares, "'What my mother didn’t teach me...' was actually thought about by Ina Puri. Wherever my brother and I go we are known as 'Anamika’s twins'. This is not something I’m complaining about, but to be able to create an identity of your own is more difficult when you have a mother like AK. Therefore, the name 'what my mother didn’t teach me' is to say that the artwork is something I have done totally on my own without the help of my mother in any way! 'And a few things she did', since I’m actually working on hand-embroidered textiles too for the first time, so that is something she taught me!" (Source: PR Handout)

The pictorial elements in the sculptures and canvases range from different trees, parts of peoples’ bodies, and myriad accessories/shapes; Untitled, 2021 (Hand embroidery on cotton) (Source: PR Handout)

The exhibition at Tao Art Gallery will be on display until April 3, 2022; The colourful things around me, 2021 (44 x 36 inches, Mixed media on canvas) (Source: PR Handout)

The showcase will be the gallery's entry into non-fungible token (NFT) space with three exclusive NFT works. "They say that in a few years, we could see digital recreations of ourselves in the metaverse living there just like the real world. So, the NFTs available now could be significant collectables or assets owned by people on the metaverse!" Viraj told indianexpress.com; Untitled, 2021; (Automotive paint on fibreglass (Source: PR Handout)

"The work depicts a discontinuity in the flow of things, of how imperfection runs deep in the core of everyday lives. The human condition is always striving towards ‘perfection’ per se, and we pointlessly spend our time trying to build a life where we seem invulnerable," notes the press statement. "Eventually, the artwork is a reflection of my life and its influences because I have to consciously make the decision of what works in the experiment and what does not. It has to agree with my sense of balance, colour and taste," Viraj described; He mentions about the work, "This is a superhero with lip fillers and a done up face! I am still waiting for someone to name the superhero“; Untitled, 2021 (Automotive paint on fibreglass (Source: PR Handout)

Untitled, 2021 (detail) (Hand embroidery on cotton) (Source: PR Handout)

“When I first interacted with Viraj’s work, I was completely taken in by how evocative each piece was. The shapes, forms and colours stood out, starkly at first, but then coming together in an incredibly aesthetic form. However, aesthetics is far from the mind of this young, upcoming artist. He, in fact, tries to break free from the aesthetic legacy handed down to him by his mother as he carves his own niche of exploration. Ironically, much of this exploration is also derived from the same legacy as he makes a sartorial commentary through his art on the ideas of beauty, fashion, appearances and society,” curator Sanjana Shah told indianexpress.com; Untitled, 2021 (Mixed media on canvas)(Source: PR Handout)

“I know Jackson Pollock had a colour throwing style but I really wasn’t thinking about Pollock during this painting. It was more about the universe with millions of stars and throwing colour with a certain intensity helped me achieve the cluster of stars"; Untitled, 2021 (Mixed media on canvas) (Source: PR Handout)

Untitled, 2021 (Mixed media on canvas)(Source: PR Handout)