Mrugen Rathod

Born in 1982, Mrugen Rathod has completed his BFA and MFA in sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MSU, Vadodara. Rathod’s practice oscillates between social, political, cultural, and ecological concerns, addressing their implications through various mediums, including drawings, sculptures, installations, photography, and video. Rathod’s work has evolved into two branches: ‘New Archives,’ which includes frottage-based art, with notable exhibitions at Montalvo Art Center (2018), Yatoo, S. Korea (2015), and Gir Lion Sanctuary (2014); and extensive research-based projects, such as Shore (2015) in Odisha, Ganga Fal (2013) in Bangladesh, and Mistaken Case of Turtles (2011) at Kochi beach. He has participated in residencies at Art OMI, NY (2012), SM Sultan, Bangladesh (2013), Abhisaran, SAARK country Art Workshop (2014), and others. Rathod often employs locally found objects that are natural, organic, biodegradable, and possess local identity and meaning. Both branches are interrelated and address his concern with ecological damage. Rathod’s exhibitions include solo shows at Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai (2023), 1 Shanthi Road, Bangalore (2017), Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi (2016), and Art-In-Building, NYC (2012); and group shows like Hindsight 2020 at Gallery Ark, Vadodara (2020) and Nature Art Cube Show, Geumgang Biennale, South Korea (2020) to name a few. His awards and fellowships include the GENERATOR Co-Operative Art Production Fund by Gallery Experimenter, Kolkata (2020), FICA PAG, Delhi (2015), Prana Fellowship (2012), and Kashi Art Fellowship (2011). He was nominated for the COAL Art Award Paris’ special project “Oceans” with COP21 (2015). Rathod’s art practice extends beyond the studio, focusing on integrating research with conversations with local communities and related institutions. This approach reveals how the history of specific ecologies has changed over time, leading to conflicts between communities and their surroundings, and impacting natural and national heritage. He draws inspiration from his travels and interactions, merging experiences and investigations to create works where subject, material, and intent coalesce. Mrugen Rathod is also a visiting faculty member at Nirma University, Department of Design, since 2019, and has experience with the technology firm Transhuman Collectives, Mumbai. Rathod lives and works in Vadodara. Mrugen Rathod Shows