Ravikumar, Adithya

Exploring the Fusion of Cultures

With a unique perspective shaped by his time living in Chennai and New York, Adithya Ravikumar aims to create art that bridges cultural boundaries and celebrates the amalgamation of diverse influences. Drawing inspiration from the vivacious design aesthetics of traditional Indian craftsmanship and the dynamic energy of street art, his work is a juxtaposition of two seemingly contrasting worlds geared towards showcasing timeless stories, narratives, characters and deities of Indian culture through a new lens.

Growing up in Southern India, Adithya was surrounded by a rich tapestry of colors, patterns, textures and traditions. The magnificent architecture of Dravidian temples, kaleidoscopic hues of Diwali, intricate weaving of fractal patterns in Kancheepuram silk fabrics, deep cultural impact of Tamil cinema and watching a whole lot of Animé in the 90s have all left an indelible mark on his artistic sensibilities.

In 2012, when Adithya moved to New York, he was first introduced to the city’s incredible urban art landscape spread across the five boroughs which inspired him to start painting as a hobby. During this period, he developed an interest in street art and built a prototype Augmented Reality iOS app that would allow graffiti artists to virtually display their artwork on walls through the mobile app. However, soon after this project, he left New York to pursue a career as a Software Engineer in the Tech Industry.

After many years of painting sporadically and eventually returning to New York during the pandemic, something clicked and in 2023 he began his body of work blending the various aesthetic influences from his life experiences to create art that connects with a global audience while staying true to his cultural identity.

He continues to enjoy his day job in Technology which now funds his art career.

Artwork

Saraswati Size: 36"x48" Price: $3199 Saraswati is the Hindu Goddess of knowledge and wisdom. She is typically portrayed wearing all white clothing seated on a white lotus. In this painting, Saraswati is depicted in a darker skin tone seated on a pink lotus.
The Kathakali Size: 24"x36" Price: $1599 Kathakali is a traditional form of performance art where the artists wear vibrant makeup, adorn intricately designed outfits and use music and dance to tell stories. It’s widely practiced in Kerala and shares traits with other traditional dance forms across the world.
The Illusion of Reality Size: 24"x36" Price: $1599 Brahma is the Hindu god associated with the act of creation and therefore responsible for the creation of reality as we see it. The backdrop of this painting is meant to be reminiscent of staring into a kaleidoscope. The patterns are meant to distract the viewer from the Brahma Yantra which is hiding in plain sight.