Dive into the artful lives of Arjun Bahl, Viraj Khanna, and Nakul Dev Chawla

Talking about men in the art space, Arjun Bahl is a great name that comes to mind. He recounts his experience, “My mother, when I wanted to learn music production, said ‘please get a proper degree first’. I am happy that I listened to her, to be honest, but today, with such a rapidly evolving environment, I think, opting for arts has become an easier choice.” Arjun shares his vision, inspiration, and the impactful journey of St+art India—an organisation that has been reshaping the urban landscape of the country for over a decade. It is involved in urban regeneration by incorporating artistic works to make cities and public spaces look more interesting and artistic. “For me, it was just the joy of putting something out there, which, hopefully, people enjoy.” Arjun, a passionate advocate of bringing art to the streets, emphasises the power of art to connect communities and create dialogues, breaking down conventional barriers.

“The urban environment in which we work is vast and progressing very fast. Our contribution is that today we have people looking forward to projects while city administrators looking more keenly and seriously into creating engaging public spaces.” The co-founders of St+art India are some who were known to Arjun since the start and some new. This collaborative spirit internally and with artists, local communities, and authorities is integral to the success of St+art. During the engaging conversation, Arjun also delves into the challenges. “I think making people believe what we wanted to do was the biggest challenge. After 10 years of work, now the challenge is to keep up the quality of the projects to ensure that they are within the DNA of what we want to do.”

The concept of St+art India was new to India at the time, and it slowly gained momentum. From street murals to large-scale installations, each with a unique narrative and purpose. He also expresses excitement and talks about the endless possibilities of blending traditional art forms with modern technology. Ending on an informative note, he highlights some of the previous and upcoming projects, “I am looking forward to the Mumbai Urban Art Biennale which is set to open at the end of 2024. Recently, we did a project in Jaipur with visually impaired kids in collaboration with a school. We also have a project called St+art care, where we have mother and child homes, paediatric hospitals, or old age homes owned and run by the government or by an NGO. A lot of times we have been asked why someone from Delhi comes in to produce an event or a project or a festival in Mumbai. I don’t think I am only from Delhi, we have a long history of work in Mumbai or in other parts for over 10 years. And the passion towards working in so many places has led us to do successful and large-scale projects.”

In an unexpected turn of events, Viraj Khanna, the co-founder of AK-OK (a ready-to-wear label), found himself venturing into the realm of art. When asked about a pivotal moment that led him to discover his calling, Viraj says, “Becoming an artist wasn’t a deliberate decision on my part. During the lockdown, while contributing to our fashion brand, my creative endeavours caught the eye of gallerist Somak Mitra from Kolkata. Engaged in crafting paper collages from magazines and newspapers, Somak recognised the potential and urged me to host an exhibition. This presented a unique challenge for me to create and showcase my work. The show exceeded expectations, selling out before its commencement, marking the initiation of my journey as an artist.” The initial smaller projects became the creative foundation for Viraj and led him to experiment with various mediums. “I transitioned from the figurative elements in the paper collages to exploring sculptures and paintings. While creating garments for AK-OK serves a distinct purpose, my art is a personal reflection of the world around me.” While aiming at keeping both his art and fashion career separate, he realised that they intersect in more ways than one could imagine. “The prints derived from my collages now find their way onto clothing in diverse forms, and the embroidery from our clothing transforms into distinct artworks. This fusion has been a rewarding experience.” Revealing some of his hidden talents he tells Bazaar India, “I’m passionate about collecting art and have built a collection that predominantly features figurative works by exceptional artists. Among them are talents like Sahana Ramakrishnan, Sohrab Hura, Rithika Pandey and several others.”

His distinct approach in the art space revolves around redefining traditional mediums in a contemporary light. “I’m utilising age-old techniques like ari and zardosi to craft figurative works.” Pointing out the challenges, “It hasn’t always been an easy journey. Some artisans were initially hesitant due to the unfamiliarity of working with figurative elements. Over time, they’ve grown accustomed to my unconventional practice.” Viraj says he is exclusively exploring the textile medium. “My current endeavour is centered on unraveling the untapped potential of textiles and showcasing its limitless possibilities.” Even after achieving so much, Viraj says he grapples with self-doubt. “I discovered that I was often rushing through paintings, driven by an eagerness to conclude them swiftly. It dawned on me that the essence of art creation lies in courage and self-belief. In my recent body of work, I consciously embraced ideas and concepts that I had previously restrained myself from exploring.”

For Nakul Dev Chawla, the co-founder of Art Mumbai, art is like family business. “My grandad founded a gallery in the 1950s, so I have grown up with art around me! It was a no-brainer for me to take it forward,” says Nakul. When asked about the genesis of Art Mumbai, he says, “The co-founders were discussing doing an art fair in Mumbai for a few years. The pandemic delayed our plans. Having noticed how well the Indian art market was performing, during and after the pandemic, we agreed that this was the right time to introduce a commercial art fair to Mumbai.” He further mentions, “The inaugural edition places a significant emphasis on fostering a sense of community. It is designed to be inclusive, welcoming not only high net worth individuals and collectors but also the wider public and students with the  primary goal of enhancing art accessibility.” The art world is currently experiencing a remarkable surge. When inquired about the current trends shaping the landscape, Nakul says, “The art market is booming. This year, we have seen a number of new buyers which has led to an increase in prices as well. It’s getting harder to source work as supply is limited and the demand is increasing. There are a number of contemporary emerging artists. I keep visiting fairs and exhibitions to explore the vast range of contemporary Indian artists.” Signing off with a popular quote, he says, “If you want to go fast you go alone, if you want to go far you go together. I deeply believe in the same.”

Featured image credit: An illustration by Viraj Khanna

This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar India January- February 2024 print issue

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