Vivek Mariappan
Chennai
Vivek Mariappan is a visual artist based in Chennai, India, working with spatial narratives. His work explores the dynamic relationship between rural and urban landscapes, focusing on the interactions between built environments and the people who inhabit them. With an emphasis on light, space, and structure, his images delve into cultural and spatial contrasts, offering insight into how these spaces shape, and are shaped by, their occupants.
As close as it gets
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Understanding a place is deeply connected to understanding the human experience within it. Places hold our memories and nostalgia, and when we seek to move on from the past, we often let go of the spaces associated with it. Yet, to make sense of ourselves, we frequently return to our roots and the places that define us.
This project began in 2019 during my artist residency in a small Swedish town. My work focused on the emotions evoked by the space and its connection to Scandinavian life. In 2020, during the second lockdown, I returned to my hometown of Erode in Tamil Nadu after a decade in a larger city. Initially disoriented, I turned to photography as a way to reconnect with the town. Capturing its built environment helped me find my bearings and feel less lost. These images now form a personal map, charting the essence of my hometown.