About me
Born in Varanasi, India, Chicago-based Janhavi Khemka approaches acoustics through woodcut printmaking and experimental installations composed of animation, sound, performance, and vibratory material.
Growing up, Khemka’s late mother encouraged her to speak in Hindi, resulting in an emphasis on lipreading in a hearing-speaking world. Shortly after she lost her mother to cancer, Khemka searched for ways to imprint her experience of the ‘real’ world. Activating her sensory capacities through touch, taste, smell, and the visual, Khemka attended Santiniketan (2015-2017) interjecting a lineage of largely male master printmakers with conceptual wit and an astute awareness of the limits of printmaking. Khemka moved to Chicago to complete her Masters at the School of the Art Institute, finding herself gravitating toward animation, sound design, and performance, activating works on paper through sound and bodily intervention. Developing immersive works that splice together the two and three-dimensional, she invites her viewers to locate their inner assumptions and aural subjectivities within the strange and otherness.
Slipping between imposed identities like, ‘disabled’, ‘marginalized’, and ‘immigrant’ - Khemka transcends ineffectual terms, attuning herself instead to the possibility of listening to materials she works within. For her, it becomes a fictional necessity to ensure her politics are not foreclosed nor erased, theoretically and conceptually.
Curriculum Vitae
DOB March 17th, 1993, Varanasi, U.P, India.
PLACE Chicago, IL, USA
LANGUAGE Hindi, English, American Sign Language
STUDIO Mana Contemporary #905, Chicago
MEDIUM EXPLORATION
Printmaking Woodcut, Lithography, Etching, Silkscreen, Wood Block, Linocut, Viscosity, Gum Print, Japanese Mokuhanga Printmaking, Glass Sculpture, Painting, Installation and Performance Art, Photography, Video Editing, Vibration material, Stop Motion, Animation, Fiber hardcore, Artist Books.
EDUCATION
B.F.A
PAINTING FACULTY OF VISUAL ART, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI, 2011-2015
M.F.A
GRAPHICS KALA BHAVANA, VISVA BHARATI UNIVERSITY, SANTINIKETAN, 2015 – 2017
STUDIO ART, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, 2021 - 2022
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2023
WORKSHOP WOODCUT WITH DEAF STUDENTS, WISCONSIN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, DELAVAN, WI, US
2022
FALL SEMESTER TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP, PRINTMEDIA PRACTICE, FACULTY: JASPAR GOODRICH, SAIC, CHICAGO, IL
FALL SEMESTER TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP, BEGINNING LITHOGRAPHY, FACULTY: BRIAN RUSH, SAIC, CHICAGO, IL
WORKER AS STAFF, PRINTSHOP, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL, USA
SPRING SEMESTER TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP, BEGINNING LITHOGRAPHY, FACULTY: BRIAN RUSH, SAIC, CHICAGO, IL
WORKSHOP WOODCUT WITH DEAF STUDENTS, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL
2021
FALL SEMESTER TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIP, RELIEF PRINTS: COLL FOLIOS (RELIEF FOLIOS), FACULTY: OLI WATT, SAIC, CHICAGO, IL
2019
PRINTMAKING SHOP, WOODCUT WORKSHOP WITH CHILDREN, SUCHANA SCHOOL, SANTINIKETAN, INDIA
2017
PAHLI UADAAN, LOKA PROJECT, WOODCUT WORKSHOP WITH CHILDREN, LOKA, BIHAR, INDIA
BARBIL ART PROJECT 3, TALES FROM THE LAND, UTSHA FOUNDATION, WOODCUT WORKSHOP WITH CHILDREN, ODISHA,
INDIA
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
UNIT #1505, COMFORT STATION LOGAN SQUARE, CHICAGO, IL (AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP)
2022
UNMUTE, SITE SHARP GALLERY, SAIC, CHICAGO, IL (AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP)
PARTICIPATION IN EXHIBITION
2023
MASTER OF FINE ART SHOW, GRADUATE SHOW AT SAIC GALLERIES, CHICAGO IL
FANTÀSTICOLISMO, CURATED BY CRISTOBAL ALDAY, AT MANA CONTEMPORARY, CHICAGO, IL
AMULETO, A THREE-WAY EXHIBITION AT MAYFIELD, THE FRANKLIN, AND HYDE PARK ART CENTER
OPEN WATER: PERMEATING TERRITORIES, CURATED BY DEVISHI SETH AND UMA KAMATH, SOUTH ASIA INSTITUTE, CHICAGO, IL
2022
DRAW SHOWING, CURATED BY LISA GREENE, NO NATION GALLERY, CHICAGO, IL
FCP, JURIED EXHIBITION, TEXAS, USA 5TH OCTOBER – 29TH OCTOBER.
WHERE SHE COMES FROM, CURATED BY PIA SINGH, NEIU FINE ARTS GALLERY, CHICAGO 3RD OCTOBER TO 29TH OCTOBER
2021
“PRESS FORWARD” A NATIONAL STUDENT PRINTMAKING EXHIBITION, OCTOBER 23 - DECEMBER 11, BOX13 ART SPACE, 6700 HARRISBURG BLVD, HOUSTON, TEXAS.
“EMBODIED HISTORIES: RECONSTRUCTING THE PRESENT”, OCTOBER 28 - DECEMBER 4, 2021, SITE GALLERY SAIC, CHICAGO
“RECOLLECTIONS” PRINT EXCHANGE & EXHIBITION, CURATED AND ORGANISED BY THONG HOAI TRAN & MADISON NICOLE MAY, SEPTEMBER 6 - OCTOBER 6, BEND GALLERY, CHICAGO
“ADVANCED ARTISTS’ BOOKS DISPLAY CASE SHOW 10” INSTRUCTOR BY MYUNGAH HYON, 7TH APRIL - 28TH APRIL 2021, JOAN FLASCH ARTISTS’ BOOK COLLECTION, SHARP BUILDING SAIC, CHICAGO.
2020
“AROH” EMAMI ART OPEN CALL GROUP EXHIBITION, CURATED BY USHMITA SAHU, 30TH SEP - 30TH OCT, EMAMI ART GALLERY, KOLKATA
”[DIH-PAHR-CHER] DEPARTURE” GROUP EXHIBITION CONCEPTUALISED BY PRASANTA SAHU, GANGES ART GALLERY, KOLKATA, 7TH FEB TO 3RD MARCH
2019
“MACROCOSM” CURATED BY LINA VINCENT, INTERNATIONAL PRINT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME (IPEP), 2018 - 2020, USA, ARGENTINA, MEXICO, TAIWAN, PAKISTAN, POLSKA, PORTUGAL, RUSSIA, TURKEY, FINLAND, NEPAL, POLAND, AUSTRALIA, INDIA.
“EMERGING CANVAS - VL” AN INDO-KOREAN YOUNG ARTIST, 20 DECEMBER 2019 TO 19 JANUARY 2020, SEOUL, KOREA
“HAUGESUND INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTISTIC RELIEF PRINTING”,10 MAY TO 4 AUGUST, HAUGESUND BILLEDGALLERI, NORWAY
“TALK BACK” FLUX FACTORY CO-CURATED BY LEXY HO-TAI AND MOIRA WILLIAMS, 9TH MAY TO 2ND JUNE, LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS, NEW YORK
2018
7TH ‘’ULSAN INTERNATIONAL WOODCUT FESTIVAL’’ SOUTH KOREA
AN SELECTED EXHIBITION IN “1ST PRINT BIENNALE INDIA 2018”, LALIT KALA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI
2017
“PRINT EXPOSITION” ARTIST RASHID CHOWDHURY ART GALLERY, CHITTAGONG, BANGLADESH
GROUP EXHIBITION “THE SHAPE OF THINGS” CONCEPTUALISED BY USHMITA SAHU, GANGES ART GALLERY, KOLKATA
INTERNATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITION “DE NOVO”, LALIT KALA ACADEMY, LUCKNOW
GROUP EXHIBITION OF WOMAN ARTISTS “I AM” AM STUDIO, KOLKATA
AN SELECTED EXHIBITION “4TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION”, EMAMI CHISEL ART GALLERY, KOLKATA 2016
AN SELECTED EXHIBITION IN “ACADEMY OF FINE ART”, KOLKATA
AN SELECTED EXHIBITION IN “THE BOMBAY ART SOCIETY”, MUMBAI
NATIONAL ART GALLERY, GROUP EXHIBITION, SHILP KALA ACADEMY BANGLADESH
GROUP EXHIBITION OF MFA 1ST YEAR, NANDAN ART GALLERY, KALA BHAVAN, SANTINIKETAN
“P.R.I.N.T” GROUP EXHIBITION OF GRAPHIC ART, ACADEMY OF FINE ART, KOLKATA
AN EXHIBITION ON “YOUNG ARTIST IN SANTINIKETAN” SSVAD, SANTINIKETAN
2015
ANNUAL EXHIBITION, FACULTY OF VISUAL ART, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI
2014
ANNUAL EXHIBITION, FACULTY OF VISUAL ART, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI
“DIVERSITY” GROUP EXHIBITION, FACULTY OF VISUAL ART, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI
“KHAJURAHO” GROUP EXHIBITION, FACULTY OF VISUAL ART, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI
WORKSHOP DETAILS
JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINTMAKING WITH ARTIST/PRINTMAKER PAUL FURNEAUX, EDINBURGH, UK, APRIL - MAY 2018
“NATIONAL PRINTMAKING CAMP 2018” KARNATAKA CHITRAKALA PARISHATH, COLLEGE OF ARTS. BENGALURU ,9TH TO 16TH MARCH’
“INTERNATIONAL GRAPHIC ARTS FESTIVAL” INDIRA KALA SANGEET VISHWAVIDYALAYA, KHAIRAGARH, 22ND TO 31ST JANUARY 2018
RESEARCH PROGRAMME IN CHITTAGONG UNIVERSITY, BANGLADESH 2016
“KALA UDAY” WOODCUT WORKSHOP IN KURUKSHETRA, HARYANA 2016
WORKED AT KALA BHAVAN, BHOPAL, FOR 2 MONTHS 2013 -GYAAN PRAVAHA, WORKSHOP, VARANASI 2010
ART RESIDENCY
2023
WISCONSIN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, DELAVAN, WI, US
KALA’S ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM, ONE MONTH, BERKELEY, CA (AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP)
BODIES OF WORK, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, THREE MONTHS, CHICAGO, IL (AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP)
GATE44, PRINTSHOP IN MILAN, ITALY
2022
“VISUALISING LANGUAGE” PIRAMAL ART RESIDENCY, 13 DECEMBER 2019 TO 11 JANUARY, MUMBAI
NEXT–STEP RESIDENCY PROGRAM NO 1 SHANTHIROAD STUDIO/GALLERY BANGALORE, 1ST SEPTEMBER TO 31ST SEPTEMBER
2017
THE INTERNATIONAL ART RESIDENCY PROGRAM, PROJECT, THE INSTITUTE OF FINE ART, UNIVERSITY OF CHITTAGONG, 1ST TO 30TH NOVEMBER 2017 BANGLADESH
“BARBIL ART PROJECT 3”, TALES FROM THE LAND, UTSHA FOUNDATION, CURATOR USHMITA SAHU, NOVEMBER 2017, ODISHA
“PAHLI UADAAN", LOKA PROJECT, WORKSHOP WITH CHILDREN, AUGUST 2017, BIHAR
ACHIEVEMENT AND AWARDS
AN AWARD OF 63RD NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ART, LALIT KALA AKADEMI, NEW DELHI, INDIA, 2023
PRINTMAKING TODAY, STATE OF THE AWARD, GRADUATE ARTIST, CELLO PRESS LIMITED, WITNEY, UK, 2022
HOLLY HUNT GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP AWARD, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL, 2021
"PRAFULLA DAHANUKAR ART FOUNDATION" MERIT GRAND AWARD FOR PRINTMAKING, 2021
THE FIRST PRINTMAKING PRIZE GATE 44, PRINTSHOP IN MILAN, ITALY 2019.
“PRAFULLA DAHANUKAR ART FOUNDATION” UTTAR PRADESH STATE AWARD FOR PRINTMAKING 2018
FIRST AWARD IN EXHIBITION ON “YOUNG ARTIST IN SANTINIKETAN” SSVAD, SANTINIKETAN 2016
FIRST AWARD IN ANNUAL EXHIBITION, BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, VARANASI 2014
JUROR
2023 THE VSA EMERGING YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM, THE KENNEDY CENTER, NW WASHINGTON, US
PARTICIPATION IN CONFERENCE
ILLINOIS ASL STUDENT, COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL, 2022
MAPC CONFERENCE 2022, KENT STATE UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF ART KENT, OHIO, 13TH OCTOBER TO 16TH NOVEMBER 2022
CONFERENCE AT SGCI INTERNATIONAL, UW MADISON 16TH MARCH 2022 – 20TH MARCH 2022
ARTIST’S PRESENTATION
2023
WISCONSIN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, DELAVAN, WI, US
THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, MYERS SCHOOL OF ART, AKRON, OHIO, US
2022
GRAD TALK, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL, USA
2021
GRAD TALK, SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO, CHICAGO, IL, USA