A Graphic Realm

Meet five digital collage artists piecing together a kaleidoscope of imagery that doesn’t just make for idiosyncratic artwork for your living room, but also challenges norms, blurs gender boundaries, and asks socially-crucial questions.

- Humra Afroz Khan

RAHUL MATHEW

“Art and design is a learning process for me, and through each series, I ensure I’m learning a new aspect. I’m also looking for newer ways to translate my experience for the onlookers. While I’ve been an artist for a while now, it was only a year ago that I began making digital collages. I find this medium more flexible, and the style, very liberating. I make art when there’s a strong urge in me to express...when there’s something exciting I want to communicate. Through each artwork, I try to relay messages on social issues or essential changes. These messages may not be entirely obvious—I like to keep them subtle—but the captions I use ensure it is clear. For example, my piece with Radha and Krishna is titled, O Radha, I’ll Wash The Rest, and is a comment on gender equality. It is from my series on legendary painter Raja Ravi Varma, which wonders how things would be if the Gods and Goddesses from his paintings lived in Mumbai and interacted with the modern-day world. One thing that I learnt fairly early in life is that there is no one right answer. This made me ask questions and look at things from different perspectives. It also helped me break away from the norms, and unlearn all the things I had been taught as a kid—be it cultural values, morals, even education.”

SEHER KHAN