MASH AWARDS 2022: OPENING UP THE NEW NORMAL WITH NEW ART SUPPORT
For young artists the years of COVID lockdown has been particularly difficult, since it reduces their ability to showcase their work, network and even visit their larger studio spaces. While this has been true of all artists, young artists are particularly vulnerable given that they do not have a market presence or in some cases even a gallery to support them. Managing in these difficult times has become more of a challenge in a field that already faces its fair share of trials. With the art world opening up in the new normal, one can be thankful that there has been an announcement of quite few art awards for young artists. These have a wealth of positive impacts on young people. Many of these are transferable to the world of work, such as gains in confidence, leadership and organizational skills.
Appealing to Indian Contemporary artists from 20-35 years of age is the MASH Young Artist Award 2022. Through the MASH Open Call, 10 artists will be recognized and announced by MASH for a dedicated group exhibition to be held from 17th September onwards at India International Centre, New Delhi. From the recognized 10, one artist will be Awarded 2,00,000 INR.
MASH is also celebrating the work of upcoming South Asian Women Artists. Each year the organization pledges to award one female artist whose practice is experimental, new and has the potential to further explore and question the political through personal and autobiographical artistic interventions. Their practice can expand into the public and natural environments through the medium of artworks, writing, installations, archive, and the like that pose as solutions.
“I am thoroughly thankful to Ms. Shalini Passi for giving me this award. I am thrilled to receive the MASH Women Artist award 2022. This award will help me study M.F.A at the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford,” says Ayushi Chaurasiya, the recipient of the MASH Women Artist Award 2022. She further adds, “The one-year, multi-disciplinary, studio-based MFA at Oxford will aid my goals to develop community- driven (disabilities, genders and castes-inclusive) public art projects in India. Coupled with impactful narratives, performative aids and multi-sensory access, these projects will be focused on the well-being of women, differently-abled, gender-diverse people and ecology, encapsulating my collage-based art practice.”
For the uninitiated, MASH is a digital platform, founded by the collector and philanthropist Shalini Passi – that explores the intersection of architecture, art, craft, design, and fashion in an accessible and engaging format.
“The Indian artscape is rapidly changing and ever expanding with an influx of many proficient artists every year. This is a substantially vital change which requires equal support from Patrons, art collectors, curators and mentors alike. MASH Awards 2022 is a step in the right direction to justify the same.”
Participants will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
Text by Georgina Maddox
Find more about MASH Awards:
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