GEOMETRY OF CAYLUS
The following body of work was created during my residency at DRAW International—Center for Drawing Research. Located in the picturesque town of Caylus in southern France, the residency was kindly hosted by John and Grete McNorton and generously supported by the French Embassy in Islamabad.
During the residency, my focus shifted from interior domestic spaces to the medieval architecture of the commune’s exteriors. I explored its geometry, textures, and cultural elements through observational drawings and pigments extracted from local stones. The vibrant, government-regulated windows, contrasting with the stone buildings, became a key focus, adding layers of narrative to the visual landscape.
My process included drawing, photo transfer, and printmaking, deconstructing the townscape into basic geometric elements and creating a visual language through the interplay of lines and shapes inspired by its unique architectural features. In my printmaking experiments, I repurposed domestic objects, further examining the relationship between space and material.
Post-residency, I have continued to develop these themes by blending visuals from Caylus with elements of my hometown, Hyderabad. This ongoing work reflects an engagement with Caylus’s essence while drawing on my cultural heritage.
Code | 2023 | charcoal, graphite, ink, stone, pigment & red oxide pigment on paper | 24 x 16 inches
Order | 2023 | ink, butter paper, red, ochre & green oxide pigment on paper | 24 x 16 inches
82160 Caylus | 2023 | Charcoal, butter paper, ink & stone pigment on paper | 24 x 22.5 inches
Rues | 2023 | Photo transfer, ink, graphite and collage on paper | 4.5 x 12 inches, each
Continuité | 2023 | Charcoal, ink & graphite on paper | 14 x 11 inches
Core | 2023 | Butter paper, graphite, ink, stone pigment, linseed oil and red oxide pigment on paper | 9.5 x 24 inches
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 18 x 15 inches
8 Rue du Château | 2023 | graphite, white ink and photo transfer on paper | 24 x 37.5 inches
Conversations | 2024 | watercolour, ink and photo transfer on wasli |
8 x 10 inches
Code 2 | 2024 | watercolor, graphite, ink & green oxide pigment on paper | 27 x 12 inches
Lanterns | 2024 | Ink, graphite, ochre oxide pigment, paper, photo transfer & stone pigment on wasli | 9.5 x 8 inches
PRINTS
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 12 x 15 inches
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 12 x 12 incheS
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 9 x 17 inches
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 12 x 23 inches
Untitled | 2023 | Relief Print on paper with water and oil-based ink | 12 x 16 inches
POST RESIDENCY WORKS
Converge | 2024 | Watercolor, ink, gouache & red oxide pigment on wasli | 20 x 20 inches
Contrast | 2024 | Ink and watercolor on wasli | 20 x 20 inches
Coalesce | 2024 | Watercolor, ink, gouache and red oxide pigment on wasli | 10 x 17 inches
