Nandini Valli Muthiah

From Remembering to Forget – Photograph © Nandini Valli Muthiah

Born in 1976, Nandini Valli Muthiah has been a photographer since 2006. She was raised in Chennai, where she continues to live and work. Muthiah has rapidly emerged as a key figure in Indian photography and, in particular, in the realm of the performative photograph. Her images are a subversive commentary on established Indian traditions. The underlying tone of the artist’s work, is that of identity and of the gaze – her own as well as of those whom she photographs. Her work tries to answer the enigmatic question, Who am I?

Color is central to Muthiah’s work. She is interested in looking at everyday aspects of life, which people “forget but which are in some ways significant.” She adds, “My work is about how society views itself and how it stereotypes certain things and puts people and objects into pigeonholes.”

Her influences include Raja Deen Dayal, Gregory Crewdson, Edward Hopper, and Tina Barney.

This bio was provided by the artist. A more comprehensive profile will be forthcoming.