Amrish Malvankar

An architect with over decade of experience, Amrish Malvankar harboured a deep appreciation for the aesthetical beauty in the functional designs he creates. As a child, he felt a natural inclination towards the fine arts, a fascination that he now places out on large canvases. As his show opened at Chitra Kala Parishath today, ACF caught up with this artist.
1. An architect turned artist, how did that happen?
As a child, I had keen interest in art. My family encouraged me to pursue it as well, as they are all creatively inclined and I continue to be inspired by them. However, when I came into the job market, my family was not sure they wanted me to face the insecurities of the art world and insisted I pursue architecture instead of art. I graduated from the prestigious Sir JJ School of architecture and set up my practice after working for various firms. It was in 2007, when I got married that my wife encouraged the artist in me. She helped me organise my first exhibition in 2010. Since then, there has been no looking back.
Each exhibition has been a learning experience and I have been lucky to have met encouraging patrons who have advised me on this journey. My work has being displayed at international art fairs, namely, Miami Art Festival and Basel via the Art Box Project. My showcase at The Nehru Center, London has been another landmark in my journey that opened up a whole new world for me.
2. What is your preferred medium?
I like to work in mixed media. Acrylics and ink are my preferred mediums. However, as an artist I believe one should always keep experimenting. I am always looking to learn and experiment with something new that can help me create an innovative painting that expresses my thoughts.
3. How is Amrish, an architect’s perspective different from Amrish, the artist.
As an architect one is bound by some rules and as an artist my canvas gives me complete freedom to let my creativity go beyond the boundaries of rules that bind.
4. Tell us more about your exhibition.
I especially like this series as this has been my first in monotypes, a form that is attempted by very few artists for Abstract art. With each exhibition, I challenge myself and aim to bring something new to the table. This allows me to learn new processes and keep adding the knowledge that will help me create new concepts.
5. Challenges in your journey as an artist.
The process of establishing oneself as an artist requires patience and commitment. That, I believe, has been the most challenging part of my journey. And I believe I still have a long way to go.