Poorvi Sultania
1992*, New Delhi, India
The acts of drawing, mark-making, and painting are pathways to slowing down, finding moments of peace, and anchoring myself in the present.
For me photographs are more than just images; they are vessels of memory and emotion. I often turn to my collection of photos, especially those tied to significant moments, allowing me to hold a piece of the past, still and tangible in the present. These captured moments become the heart of my work, flowing into my paintings forming collages.
Repetition is a powerful and grounding force in my work. It is a repetitive act, much like the Indian tradition of counting a ‘mala’ of 108 sacred beads, a practice that connects one to a greater sense of self or God. As Pina Bausch observed, “Repetition is not repetition. The same action makes you feel completely different by the end.” I believe this sense of change emerges when there is an inner shift. With each mark, I feel a subtle shift within, a gentle evolution. Thus, repetition is a key act of expression in my practice, marking a passage of time and honouring its flow. My painting practice is my form of chosen devotion – it fills me with hope and a profound sense of possibility.
Poorvi completed her MFA in Painting from the Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara, India and holds a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London. She has been a resident at Space Studio in Baroda and has exhibited widely in India. Most recently she been selected to show in the 64th National Exhibition of Art with Lalit Kala Akademi in New Delhi. She has an upcoming show with Frédérique Hutter Art Concept in April 2026 in Zurich, alongside Florian Bühler