Biography
Anunay Rai is an artist based in Gurugram, India with a studio in New Delhi. Born in 1980 in Rourkela, Orissa, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Design and worked in advertising before dedicating himself fully to art in 2021. His art is inspired by the darker aspects of human nature, his personal experiences and spiritual practice.
His artistic process involves drawing female forms, which are often concealed in his paintings, serving as a reflection of his thoughts and emotions. He experiments with a variety of materials including concrete, pigments, coal, sawdust and cow dung to create organic, sculptural forms, which contribute to his unique style by combining elements of painting, drawing, sculpture and installation.
In 2022, his work "Tangible Tenacity" was a shortlist in the Lumen Prize in the image category. The work captured the resilience of the protestors against the establishment, using AI and translating the expression onto concrete. He held his first solo exhibition "No Syllabus" at Lalit Kala Akademi in October 2022, and has works featured in the AIFACS 95th All India Art Exhibition of 2022.
Artist Statement
My work explores the darkness within and around me. Through self-experiments, I alternate between disconnecting and connecting with the world, balancing self-control and giving into desires. My creative focus centers on drawings of female forms, which serve as remnants in my paintings and sculptures, symbolizing my personal Karmic Debt and the consequences of my choices and actions.
I prefer concrete as a material, but I also use canvas, paper, and fabric based on my intuition and concept. The abstract process begins with the substrate creation, where random objects often leave their mark, but I intentionally obscure their identity.
I combine the unpredictable markings and drawings with paint, pigments, coal, sawdust, ash, and even cow dung to create my unique style that blends painting, drawing, sculpture, and installation. My art showcases the various influences in life and the relationship between the self, the world, and the impact we have on both.
Artist CV