Chetnaa

Born in 1981 in New Delhi, Chetnaa completed her Masters degree in Painting from the College of Art in New Delhi. Her geometric abstractions are drawn largely from the landscape and architecture of her city: keen observations of the metropolis translated into an eloquent schematic of lines and markers. Initiated as symmetrical arrangements, Chetnaa’s work reveals the need to deconstruct the order she once sought, so as to build a new geometric logic that feeds her minimalist aesthetic. Chetnaa’s artistic practice centers on the delicate interplay between the pristine white of paper and the profound black of ink. Through techniques like plotting, dotting, drawing, stitching, foiling, and puncturing, predominantly on paper, she explores the journey of a moving point — sometimes linearly or converging with others. Her quest is to eschew overt emotional expression, instead seeking harmony in the equilibrium of positive and negative space, through manipulation of lines, grids, and color. In recent years, she has immersed herself in the exploration of the square shape, both within its confines and through its dissolution. This ongoing exploration has yielded a constant evolution, with innumerable permutations and combinations emerging. From this foundation, she ventured into the realm of three-dimensional metal sculptures that echo and expand upon her paper-based explorations. These sculptures remain deeply rooted in the core ethos of her practice, bridging the gap between two-dimensional representation and tangible form. Her work beckons viewers to contemplate the essence of our urban surroundings, revealing the beauty inherent in both the simplicity of form and the intricate complexities of urban life. Chetnaa recently presented a solo show, ‘Here I Am’, with Silvia’s Mother Gallery in London, United Kingdom, 2024. She had also presented a focus booth, ‘Sacred Square: 101 Meditations on Paper’, at the India Art Fair 2022 with Anupa Mehta Contemporary Arts. The artist has received AIFACS, All India Drawing Award; Emerging Artist of the Year by Glenfiddich and Best College Art Award; Special mention Award, SCZCC, Nagpur. She has widely shown with numerous well-established galleries all across India.