Ahalya Rajendran

From her earliest reminiscences of paddy cultivations in her family’s fields, where she fondly recalls the moment when she first held soil in her hands, Ahalya smiles ear-to-ear as she recollects, catching fish, only to release them back into the water, and running over to the ducks every morning, eager to see if any of the eggs has hatched. The existential experience underpins all of Ahalya’s paintings in a way that fragments of poignant and happy memories are sown together in a grander story of her childhood, bringing them alive into the daily joys of living and being part of this wondrous world.

Ahalya Rajendran completed her BFA in painting from the Govt.  College of Fine Arts  Thrissur, Kerala and MVA in painting at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Ahalya is a recipient of the Nasreen Mohamedi Scholarship Award, MSU Fine Arts, Baroda (2019), She was one of the participating artists in the Summer Residency programs organized by Space Studio, Vadodara (2022). Her recent participations include ‘ALL THAT IS LIFE’ curated by Saloni Doshi, Space 118 gallery, Mumbai (2021); ‘Lokame Tharavadu (The world is one family)’ curated by Bose Krishnamachari, Kochi Biennale Foundation (2021); Space 118 × The Maharaja Sayajirao University, MFA Final Year Digital Display (2021); ‘Turtles can tell more about the road than hares’, curated by O. Sunder, Darbar Hall, Ernakulam, Kerala (2021); The International Kalamela group exhibition, New Delhi (2018); Kerala State Exhibition, Darbar Hall, Ernakulam, Kerala (2021); Kochi Muziris Students Biennale (2018 & 2021); Sakti Women’s art camp and exhibition conducted by the Art India Company, Himachal Pradesh (2020); and ENCORE Final Display at Govt. College of Fine Arts, Thrissur, Kerala (2019).

She is currently living and continuing her studio practice in Baroda.