Hybridising Space: Ayesha Singh’s Image Making with Architecture

New Delhi-based artist Ayesha Singh’s architectural images are strongly rooted in her explorations with archives. Though her artistic practice is dominated by sculptures and drawings, the photograph weaves its way into her trajectory whether as images of building facades or images of projected texts as well as archival images. Cities and urban processes have a constant presence in the artist’s research and understanding of contemporary socio-political concerns. Her intervention takes the form of a reappropriation of such spaces, by questioning the meanings or experiences associated with them.

Through this illustrated conversation, Singh provides insight into Provisional Obstruction (2017) an ongoing collaborative project with Miami based artist Misael Soto. Their work explores the way meanings of spaces change by rethinking the place of temporary objects such as the scaffolding. She also reflects upon Capital Formation (2019), a series of photographs that were created using the city of Delhi as a canvas to project words and thoughts on. The interview circles back from images to sculpture, to wrap up with the artist sharing her ongoing experiments with 3D printed models of Hybrid Amalgamations (2019 – ongoing) and prospective thoughts for future interactions.

^{(Featured Image: Provisional Obstruction by Ayesha Singh and Misael Soto. Pilsen, Chicago, 2017. Image courtesy of Ayesha Singh, Misael Soto and ACRE Projects.)}

Recorded on 20 August 2021