Dharani Kommalapati
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Drawing & Printmaking)
An accumulation of lines, finely stitched together in delicate harmony to create an orchestra of trees, plants and seeds.
My practice explores the dynamic relationships between fantasy and reality, nature and culture and identity and landscape. Aiming to grapple with understanding my cultural identity as a south Asian woman navigating white-dominated spaces, I use my drawings to meditate on the sense of belonging that I crave. My practice is an ever-growing collection of plant forms that seem to grow and intertwine with each other, but they are always at odds with their surroundings, suspended in a void of white paper. Each drawing speaks to the intricacies of understanding culture and the importance of seeking acceptance and peace within nature through a process of control.