Born in India and now based in Singapore, Aninda Varma is an artist whose works intersect between textile and ceramics—both underscored by an abstract visual language. Her current focus on textile art showcases naturally dyed fabrics featuring a composition of textile embellishments—such as zari work and gotta patti—alongside tie-dye patterns in fluid, organic forms. This visual language traces back to Aninda’s earliest memories with her mother, surrounded by revered handloom textiles. What followed was an intuitive response to their current struggle against mass-produced alternatives and a desire to rekindle the enthusiasm for traditional Indian textiles.

A graduate from BFA (Maharaja Sayajirao University) Faculty of Fine Arts Baroda and an MA in Fine Art (Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts) Philadelphia, complemented by an advanced MA in Contemporary Art from Sotheby’s Institute of Art London, Aninda’s love for ceramics holds a special place. Showcased in international galleries including Singapore-based INSTINC and UK’s Thrown Gallery, these ceramic pieces, too, follow abstract forms. Each piece is marked by unexpected bumps and contours, with gold clasps accenting the surface and fabric strips occasionally woven into the structure. They follow a colour palette of rich, grounding hues including terracotta, black clay and vermillion. In Aninda’s textile artworks, naturally dyed fabrics first take form in her studio, only to be later exposed to the elements—interacting with their surroundings and seasonal shifts—to develop their final, evolving visual language. Meanwhile, in her ceramics, nature serves as a muse —inspired by different seed pods Aninda collects, which is quite evident in the spontaneous shapes that the piece embraces. Both the art forms, seemingly distinct, eventually come together with how ‘nature’ actively shapes their creation. What shines through in Aninda’s works is how they push against convention, moving away from rigid and defined structures to embrace forms that reflect individuality, a sense of belonging and solidarity. Ultimately, her practice reflects a larger movement among contemporary artists who fluidly navigate between mediums, allowing ideas and materials to shape one another in ways that are both unexpected and deeply evocative.