ARTIST STATEMENT
To address childhood fears of the unknown in the dark, I created a humorous response called “Above My Head.” This involved crafting a tiny army of porcelain monsters as protectors. These porcelain monsters can be hung on the wall or placed as standalone decorations, offering a playful twist on the concept of monsters under the bed.
“Pink Bank” is an abstract piggybank in the form of a faceless and stomach less cow – representing insatiability, tension (or lack of), and curiosity. It encourages introspection and asks, “What fills your soul/stomach?” By investing in what truly matters, it promotes a fulfilling and purposeful life. (this bank is number 4 of 15 custom made banks)
My artist practice focuses a lot on repetition. This causes me to create tiny armies of works, all slightly unique. I use different materials like ceramics, wood, and mixed media. Heavily inspired by Surrealism, it allows me to delve deeper into the emotional dimensions that repetition can evoke, such as unity, tension, frustration, and even humor. I use it as an opportunity to celebrate uniqueness while creating these changes through character building, emotion, color, and patterns. In a way, my work/armies reflects the diversity within humanity —simultaneously alike and distinct, with the same start and end.
I invite viewers to contemplate the intricate interplay of repetition and variation in their own lives. By embracing imperfections and celebrating uniqueness, I strive to foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty found within the collective and the individual.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Uma Kamat (B. 2000, Pennsylvania, USA) is an artist who recently graduated with honors from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. With a Bachelors in Fine Arts, she works with a range of materials like ceramics, wood working, jewelry, mixed media, and 3D modeling.
Throughout her work, she explores the concept of repetition in various forms. By employing different materials and addressing different subjects, she delves into the emotional dimensions that repetition can evoke, such as unity, tension, frustration, and even humor.
Uma recently hosted her first exhibition “Open Waters: Permeating Territories” at the South Asia Institute in Chicago. She has also been a part of exhibitions in Chicago like downtown SITE galleries and Bodies I at the International Museum of Surgical Science.
She is heavily inspired by Surreal artists as it helps her study how one subject can be seen through different perspectives. These perspectives is what helps create a slight difference every time an object was created through the repetitive process.
Outside of her artistic endeavors, Uma channels her creativity into the realm of wearable technology. She dedicates her part-time work to 3D modeling and the creation of hardware that integrates seamlessly with wearable devices. This additional pursuit allows her to blend her artistic sensibilities with emerging technologies, further expanding her creative repertoire and contributing to the innovative landscape of wearable tech.
© Uma Kamat