CV

VIDHA SAUMYA (b.1984, Patna, India)

Lives and works in Helsinki

Co-founder and co-editor of NO NIIN, Helsinki, Finland
Founding member of ‘Museum of Impossible Forms’, Helsinki, Finland

Education

MA (Visual Culture and Contemporary Art), Aalto University, Helsinki, 2018

Diploma (Visual Communication Design), Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bengaluru, 2008

Independent Study Program, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore, 2007

BFA (Drawing & Painting), Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, 2005

Grants

Travel Grant, Nordic Culture Point, 2021

Artist Grant, Kone Foundation, 2021-22

Artist Grant, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (TAIKE), 2020

Artist Grant, Kone Foundation, Finland, 2018

Projects

‘Reading List’, an artistic commission at Academill, Vaasa – invited by artist-in-residence Lena Séraphin, 2020-2022

‘Reading List’, an artistic commission for ‘Gathering for Rehearsing Hospitalities’ – Public Programme by Frame Contemporary Art Finland, 2019

‘Monumentless Moments: The Utopia of Figureless Plinths’, supported by Kone Foundation, Helsinki, Finland, 2017-2019

Solo Exhibitions

2020 ‘Monumentless Moments: the Utopia of Figureless Plinths’, MAA-tila Project Space, Helsinki, Finland

2016     ‘No one at the ceremony remembers to mention the artist’, Third Space, Helsinki, Finland

2015    ‘BODY as SITE’, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2011     ‘Love Charades’, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2010     ‘Song of the Sirens’, Grey Noise, Lahore, Pakistan

2008    ‘Baaji Naama’, Nairang Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan

2008    ‘Lahori Bachchey’, Alliance Francoise, Lahore, Pakistan

Group Exhibitions

2022 ‘lumbung’, with Party Office curated by ruangrupa, documenta 15, Kassel, Germany

2022 ‘Can You Hear Me?’, curated by Phalguni Guliani, Vermont Studio Centre, Vermont, US

2021 ‘Aikakoneita & Utopioita (Time Machines and Utopia)’, curated by Hanna Johansson, Ainola Museum, Visavuori Museum, and Tarvaspää Museum, FI

2021 ‘At Some Point We All Have To Dance’, curated by Irena Borić and Maja Hodošče, Likovni Salon Gallery, Gallery of Contemporary Art, Celje, Slovenia

2021  ‘In the Light of’, curated by Gitanjali Dang, Gallery Ark, Baroda and Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai

2021 ‘Doing Other’, Luokko Galleria, Helsinki

2020 ‘2084’, curated by Anne Klontz, Catalyst Ry, Kaapelitehdas, Helsinki2020 Meadow curated by Taru Elfving, Onoma Summer Exhibition, Fiskars

2019   ‘Slow Rush‘, curated by inaway: Ramina Habobollah, Nayab Ikram for FemfArt, Titanik-Galleria, Turku

2019    ‘80 Days’, curated by Jani Lehtonen, Artsi: Vantaa Art Museum, Vantaa, Finland

2019    ‘In the Land of Downside up: Adbhut Lok’, curated by Nancy Adajania, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, India

2018    ‘Experimental Event IV: La Torre de Babel’, Valimo Hall of Palmgren Conservatory, Pori Finland

2018    ‘Caressing History: A Draft for Body-based Historiography’, curated by Adwait Singh, Shrine Empire Gallery, New Delhi, India

2018    ‘River in an Ocean’, curated by Abdullah Qureshi and Natasha Malik, Lahore Pakistan

2017    ‘I am our common pronoun’, curated by Helga Christofferson, Chart Art Fair, Copenhagen, Denmark

2017    ‘Dwelling’, curated by Ranjit Hoskote, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2017     ‘IS/NOT: Sculpture for the Post-Truth Era’, Aalto University Learning Centre, Helsinki, Finland

2016     ‘Where does poetry nest?’, curated by Giovanna Esposito Yussif, Galleria Emil, Tampere, Finland

2014    ‘Touched by Bhupen’, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2014    ‘Call a book a book’, HIVE, Mumbai, India

2012    ‘Mumbai Gallery Weekend’, Taj Lands End, Mumbai, India

2012    ‘India Art Fair’, New Delhi, presented by Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2011    ‘5th Anniversary Exhibition’, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2010    ‘The Leaf Song’, Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, Northamptonshire, UK

2009    ‘Long Gone and Living Now’, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India

2008    ‘Polyptych’, Alhamra Art Gallery, Lahore, Pakistan

Books

‘Helsinki in November’, one book poem, 2020

‘Monumentless Moments: the Utopia of Figureless Plinths’, seven poetry books and a reader, 2020

‘November Salads’, one poem book, 2019

‘September in Helsinki’, one poem book, 2019

‘Naap’, a book of drawings, published by STUDIOVAAK, 2019

‘Purdah’, a book of drawings, published by STUDIOVAAK, 2019

‘Gunpowder’, a book of drawings, published by STUDIOVAAK, 2017

‘Tah’, handmade photobook, 2014

‘Bhoora’, photobook published by STUDIOVAAK, 2014

‘EXPLOSIVES’, self-published book of drawings, 2009

‘Guftagu: gutarrrgoon’, self-published illustrated book of conversations, 2008

Podcasts & Publications (contributions)

2022 ‘NO NIIN: Volume 1’, (ed.) Elham Rahmati & Vidha Saumya, Helsinki, FI

2021 ‘Aikakoneita & Utopioita(Time Machines and Utopia)’, Episode 9, curated by Hanna Johansson, Ainola Museum, Visavuori Museum, and Tarvaspää Museum, FI

2021 ‘UA Talks: NO NIIN Publication: Building a New Platform & Love’, Episode 3, hosted by Olga Palo, UrbanApa, Helsinki

2021 ‘Impossible Reader: How to Work Together: Seeking models of solidarity and alliance’, (ed.) Aiava, Emily & Aiava, Raine. (pub.) Museum of Impossible Forms, Helsinki, FI

2020 ‘Tahdig’ and ‘Ei kahta samanlaista’ poems in Nuori Voima Möykky, edited by Even Minn & Kid Koko

2020 ‘Touched by Sneeze’ illustrated pages in KUTI, guest-edited by Sezgin Boynik (RAB_RAB Press)

2018 ‘Mushkilshuda’ poem and drawings in Aroop, edited by Nancy Adajania

2017 ‘The Meal’, essay in FOOD and Other Practices in the Arthouse, Published by Aalto University

Performances & Poetry Reading

2021 Aikakoneita & Utopioita(Time Machines and Utopia), Episode 9, curated by Hanna Johansson, Ainola Museum, Visavuori Museum, and Tarvaspää Museum, FI

2022 Stop Hatred Now, organised by UrbanApa, Helsinki

2021 2020 Runoviikko, Turku

2019  Baltic Circle Festival, Cirko – Centre for New Circus, Helsinki

2019 Today Is Our Tomorrow – initiated by PUBLICS, Kaiku, Helsinki

2019  Stop Hatred Now, UrbanApa Festival, Caisa, Helsinki

2018  Runoviiko Poetry Festival, Korjaamo, Kiilaklubi, Helsinki

2018  Anti-Racist Forum Workshop: Respectability Politics and Model Minority Myths, Oraansi, Helsinki

Teaching

2021 Guest Faculty, Boundaries of Representation, The Theatre Academy, Helsinki

2021 Guest Faculty, Introduction to Art History from the Indian Subcontinent, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

2021 Supporting Curator, Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP), Helsinki 

2021 Workshop Conductor, Ways of Working, Theatre Academy, Helsinki

2021 Studio Visit Lecture at NODE centre, Berlin

2021 Introduction to Art from South Asia, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

2021 Introducing NO NIIN, Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki

2021 Artist Book: Concept to Exhibition, 6-sessions course at Taidekoulu MAA, Helsinki

2020  Artist Talk, Taidekoulu MAA, Helsinki

2019  Long Sentences Workshop for Baltic Circle Festival, Theatre Academy, Helsinki

2019  Guest Faculty, Feminist Curating, Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

2018  Anti-Racist Feminist Stage, The Theatre Academy, Helsinki

Residencies

2018    Asemalabra S2E1, Helsinki, Finland

2010    Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, Northamptonshire, UK