Arushee Suri
While strolling through an art gallery or museum, it is common to encounter signs that prohibit touching the works on display. Although these signs are intended to preserve the artwork on display, they often overlook the needs of individuals with disabilities who rely on physical touch to fully experience the art. Arushee Suri, an artist who has personally encountered this issue, addresses it in her work by emphasizing senses beyond the visual.
Artist Arushee Suri. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri
Arushee Suri received an MFA from Central Saint Martins, University of Arts London, and a BFA from College of Art, New Delhi India. Through her education and her personal struggles with vision, she realised a significant gap in art that engages senses beyond the visual. Thus Arushee’s artworks are predominantly focused on all the five senses rather than just the visual aspect.
She started with making blind drawings (drawing without her glasses or lenses) and added textures like braille and embroidery to them. These hands-on processes then enabled her to explore porcelain, as a material. Which then led to her creating sculptures, inspired by her drawings. With time she started using and adding material such as fur and beads to her artworks. All objects that are very tactile and enable the viewer to experience the artwork by not just visually looking at it.
In addition to her emotional connection to the artworks and to their aesthetic appeal, her works also explore a conceptual dimension. She explores the idea of senses triggering memories. One particularly remarkable piece that delves into this theme is Arushee’s artwork titled "Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the Smell of Rain." In this evocative creation, Arushee aims to transport viewers to the heart of India by capturing its rich fragrances and textures. Through the medium of her sculptures, she invites an immersive experience that engages both the senses of smell and touch.
Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the smell of rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
Arushee incorporates the distinctive aroma of wet earth, the robust scent of black cardamom, and the sweet perfume of night jasmine in order to create a sense of India, her home country. Important to mention is that these olfactory elements are not chosen at random; they hold deep personal significance, representing cherished memories from her personal life in India.
The combination of her emotional connection to the work and her conceptual thinking showcases that Arushee’s artworks serve as a testament to how art can transcend visual boundaries, enveloping the audience in a multisensory narrative that resonates with nostalgic recollections of the viewers and her own mind.
Besides her passion for the arts Arushee is also an educator and has a passion for teaching. She has taught printmaking to underprivileged adults in New Delhi and learning-disabled young adults in London. Apart from that she has mentored residencies for Printmaking Foundation of India in the year 2018 and 2019. Her experience teaching has had a profound impact on her and has also influenced the beginnings of her practice and her artworks.
Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the smell of rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the smell of rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the smell of rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
‘The experience gained while working with visually impaired and learning-disabled young adults has added layers to my work and has given me a deeper understanding of my concerns. During one of the workshops with the visually impaired, I asked one participant about dreams. His answer was because he has not seen anything ever, he smells scents and hear sounds in his dreams. This statement intrigued and stayed with me and was thus a starting point of my practice.’ –Arushee Suri
Currently Arushee teaches young adults with learning-disabilities in London, alongside creating artworks. She has also been recently shortlisted for the Emerging Artist Award South Asia 2024 – TAF, London and has been selected for a solo exhibition, which was running from the 25th of March till the 3rd of May titled ‘Beside the Lake, Beneath the Trees’ in East Quay Watchet, Somerset, UK.
Arushee Suri's journey through art is not just about creating visually captivating pieces but about bridging the gap between art and accessibility, especially for those with disabilities. Her deeply personal exploration of sensory engagement stems from her own experiences and challenges with vision, pushing her to redefine the boundaries of artistic interaction. By incorporating textures, braille, embroidery, and even scents into her artworks, Arushee invites viewers to engage holistically, touching and smelling as well as seeing.
Landscape of Dreams and Distant memories. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri
Her commitment to inclusivity extends beyond her artistic practice; it permeates her role as an educator, where she enriches the lives of underprivileged and learning-disabled adults through art. This dedication not only informs her approach but also deepens her understanding of the profound impact sensory experiences can have on memory and emotion.
Through her work, she challenges traditional norms of art appreciation, advocating for a more inclusive and enriching artistic experience that resonates with diverse audiences on a sensory and emotional level. As she continues to evolve as an artist and educator, Arushee Suri exemplifies how art can transcend its visual confines to become a transformative sensory narrative, touching hearts and minds alike.
Then Silence there was howling coming from the unsettled winds. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri
There was Thunder, there was Dancing in the Rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
Memories of a Mild and Gentle Breeze and the smell of rain. Photo Courtesy: Arushee Suri.
Selected Exhibitions and Projects
India Art Fair - Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art, New Delhi – Feb 2024
Common Ground – India Ceramic Triennale, India Art Fair, New Delhi – Feb 2024
The Light we Cannot See, Mumbai Gallery Weekend - Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art, Mumbai – Jan 2024
Festival Of Print – Art Pavilion, Mile End, London – Nov – Dec 2023
Through the Looking Glass – Mall Galleries, London - Aug 2023
NAE Open 22 - New Art Exchange, Nottingham, UK, June - Sep 2022
Love at the Time of Revolution - Print Club Delhi, New Delhi, Feb-March 2020
Like this only, Printmaking Foundation of India, New Delhi, Feb - March 2019
An Overwhelming Dream – A Printmaking Exhibition, Print Club Delhi, December 2018
Collective Influence, Shape Open, London, March 2018
Graphic Days, Print Club Torino, Italy, 12th – 15th October 2017
6th Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, Greece, September 2017
Print/5, The Bomb Factory Art Foundation, 7 June - 10 June 2016
Lifting the Veil: International Female Group Exhibition, 8 April - 27 May 2016, Gallery Rosenfeld London
Pameran Poskad, Gillman Barracks, Singapore - 2015
Seeds, Flowers, Fruits: Negotiations of Identity, Blue Studios, London - 2015
Granfalloon, Lethaby Gallery, Central St Martins, London - 2015
Utopia Project, Matt’s Gallery, London - 2015
PRINTJAM, Parfitt Gallery, Croydon College, London - 2015
Big Space IV, Central St Martins College of Art & Design, London – 2015
Post Graduate Auction – Lethaby Gallery, Central St Martins, UAL- 2014
My Other Show is at the Tate – Lethaby Gallery, Central St Martins, UAL- 2014
Open Studio, 2013, 2014, 2015 Central St Martins College of Art & Design, London
Tomorrow: Today, Bargehouse, OXO Tower, London - 2013
Annual Exhibition at AIFACS (All India Fine Art and Craft Society) - 2011 & 2013
Annual Exhibition at College of Art, New Delhi - 2008 – 2012
Sketchbook Project, Art House, LLC, USA - 2011
Sandra Nikusev
Art Markets Co-Editor, MADE IN BED