Padma Rajendran

Where are you from and where do you reside?

I was born in Malaysia but spent my childhood mostly in Saudi Arabia and formative years in Iowa. I currently reside in Catskill, NY.

What necessities do you require when making your art?

Plentiful light, preferably no distractions, and more often than not - a deadline.

Describe a typical day in the studio for you.

Starting the studio process at home, I plan for the day and do some doodles on scraps of paper or my home sketchbook, so that once I am in the studio, I have a guideline of how to use my time and what to prioritize for the day. Most of the time I “warm up” with indigo ink drawings. This ritual takes the pressure off and is based on experimentation and pleasure.

What is the most difficult part of the artistic process for you?

Finishing work! That reality of a work being so close to done is that the ability to make a decision really slows down.

Are there any aspects of your process that are left to chance?

The beginning stages of starting a piece or, when I'm working with ceramics, firing the clay or glazing. I do think working with fabric and dyes always brings chance and circumstance into the work.

How do you choose your materials?

Typically I gravitate towards materials that have a near paper-like surface, or fabrics that I am just instinctively attracted to - not so much that I have a need for. Ink and other materials I use to create marks often have a sheen or particular reaction once applied to the surface.

Can you tell us more about how these pieces are made?

Inspired by the storytelling and cultural presence of Batik, these pieces are created by drawing with a resist and then selectively adding and painting with dye. For these pieces in particular, I was feeling a bit stuck and relied on some of the drawings I was doing as “warm ups” to create these works.

Where do you find your day-to-day inspiration?

Observing quiet or discarded moments within the day and within my memory.

Do you find that environment relates to your work?

Yes, very much so! I am very influenced by my environment and if I am not feeling happy in a place or if the space is dark I have a hard time making work. I linger on observations from the outside to talk to the occurrences within the interiority of the paintings.

Inspired by the storytelling and cultural presence of Batik, these pieces are created by drawing with a resist and then selectively adding and painting with dye.

Padma Rajendran

What tangible objects or intangible moments are you most interested in representing through your works?

Interior domestic spaces as a mirror of one’s psychological interior.

What themes or motifs are you consistently drawn to?

Considering domestic ritual, retelling events, and giving acknowledgment to hidden moments.

How has your work developed in the past few years, and how do you see it evolving in the future?

I’ve been more curious about site specific works, moving away from the wall, and incorporating paper into the fabric works.

Did you attend art school?

I started studying fine arts for undergarduate at Haverford College, and then went on to graduate school at Rhode Island School of Design. At Haverford, I worked with painter Ying Li, and at RISD with Andrew Raftery and Brian Shure. Ying has been a definite mentor for me because I didn’t think about pursuing art especially as an Asian woman or even what goes into being an artist.

Do you remember the first work of art that captured your attention?

Perhaps Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or the large batik hanging of Nataraja in my parent’s living room.

Is there any artwork on display in your home/studio? Whose is it?

Yes, I have mostly prints and a few paintings from artists Jose Antonio Suarez Londono, Lois Dodd, and some friends, Michael Menchaca, Beverly Acha, and Kenneth Fontaine.

Are you influenced by any author or non-visual artist? Are you influenced by any artist that does something completely different than you?

Oh absolutely! I love being absorbed by reading when I have the opportunity. I can easily say bell hook’s Art on My Mind changed my life.

Is there something people would be surprised to learn about you?

I prefer to write letters rather than email.

What’s next for you?

I am preparing for a solo show in Portland, Oregon and preparing for teaching my textile printing class at Anderson Ranch in Colorado!