Biography

About: 
Kavita Singh Kale (Born, Himachal Pradesh, India) studied Painting from College of Art, Delhi University and Animation film design from National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad, India. Kavita is a Trasnmedia Artist currently based in New Delhi.

People around- strangers, acquaintance, family and friends are the building blocks for her narratives. She builds stories around individuals by closely observing them and creating microcosmic environment of barest minimal- essentials. She is a co-founder of an interdisciplinary art and design studio called Underground Worm which encapsulates clusters of interventions of Art, Design, Science and Technology. Kavita's artistic explorations have turned into commercial design projects that have been showcased in national and international literature, art, design and film festivals; museums and galleries.



-->

KAVITA SINGH KALE CV

Filmmaker, Transmedia Artist, Children’s Book Author and Illustrator

 

Alumnus of NID Ahmedabad & College of Art Delhi University, Kavita has 15 years of industry experience in broadcast design, children’s content creation, animation film design and transmedia art practice. Kavita has contributed to more than 45 children’s books.

Work Experience:
 

Creative Director

Underground Worm Art & Design Studio (2009-Till date)

 

-Conceiving and implementing concepts, creating styleguides and strategies with primary and secondary research.

-Budget estimate, vendor coordination, production optimisation

-Doing self-exploration through art and design projects that get extended to prospective commercial projects in the area of book publications, broadcast design, TVC and short films.

 

Art & Design Director

XSEED Education (2018-19)

 

-Oversee visual product development of academic content across digital and print media

-Develop style-guides and art-direct product prototypes for premium school in K-8 segment to create print(text books) and digital(film+interactive design) products

-Achieving targets on time by conducting training sessions for vendors, authors as well as internal design team, mentoring and reviewing work.

 

Senior Producer OAP

Reliance BIG Broadcasting (2008-2009)

 

-Was involved in the launch of BIG Broadcasting channels like BIG Magic

-Strategy development for overall channel branding by ensuring alignment of on-air-promotions with channel’s visual vocabulary

-creating content to promote channel identity

 

Deputy Producer OAP

STAR News (MCCS) (2005-2007)

-While working for Star News, was involved in the launch of Star Anando and handled On-Air-Promotions for Star News and Star Anando

-Creating content to promote programming line up to enhance the brand image

-Budget estimation, vendor coordination, production optimisation

 

Designer

Famous House of Animation (2004-2005)

-Art directed studio’s website and worked on animated TV commercials

 

Film Director

Rammohan Biographics (2004)

-Worked with Mr. Ram Mohan and directed a short film for Films Division, Govt. of India

 

Industrial Internship OAP

Channel V (Star India) (2003)

-During NID industrial training at Channel V, worked on various on-air-promotion projects

Awards and Honors: 
:PromaxBDA World- Gold, New York, USA
:PromaxBDA India- Gold, Mumbai, India
:First Prize, Indian Documentary Producers' Association, Mumbai, India
:PromaxBDA India- Silver, India
:Silver Conch (International), Mumbai International Film Festival, India
:Darsana National Book Award- Best Children's book production, Kerala, India
:PromaxBDA World- Bronze, New York, USA
:UnBox Labs British Council Fellowship, India
:Finalist- The British Council India Young Creative Entrepreneur (YCE) Awards

Residencies: 
:The Trelex Residency, Trelex, Geneva, Switzerland'17
:Can Serrat International Art Centre Residency, Barcelona, Spain'15-18
:UnBox Labs British Council Fellowship Residency, NID, Ahmedabad, India'14 
:Eco Stroke art camp/residency, Marykulam, India'12   
:The WhyNot Place Residency, Arts.I, Religare Gallery, New Delhi India'10

Solo exhibitions: 
:WHO WE ARE, Apparao Gallery and Lodhi, New Delhi, India'14    
:Visual Diary, Visual Arts Gallery, New Delhi, India'09  

Exhibition and Festivals: 

2020

:Introspection, Shrishti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, India

:Book Illustrators Gallery(BIG), Asian Festival of Children's Content(AFCC), Singapore 

:Writer/Illustrator Camp, Room to Read, Gorgaon, India 

:Bookaroo LitHouse, New Delhi, India

:Parag Honour List 2020 exhibit, World Book Fair, New Delhi, India

 

2019

:AV-FLOSS, Open Studio, Jaaga, Bengaluru, India

:The Dot That Went For A Walk, Royal Opera House, Mumbai, India

:Creative Non-Fiction workshop by Parag, EdelGive and Tulika Publishers, Chennai, India

:Kanpur Children's Literary Festival, Kanpur, India

:Bookaroo Literature Festival, Gangtok, SIkkim, India

 

2018

:Marks Make Meaning, The Grand Parade Gallery, University of Brighton, UK

:Colour your world workshop, Gallery Latitute, New Delhi, India

:Bookaroo Literature Festival, Bali, Rajasthan, India

  

2017

:50:50, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, India 
:Words and Images, Nazar Art Gallery, Vadodara, India

:Bengaluru Fanatstic techart festival, Rangoli Metro Art Center, Bengaluru, India 

:Artist Book-Making workshop, TAKE on art, India Art Fair, Delhi, India 

:Comics and the City, Goethe Institut, New Delhi, India
:Bookaroo Literature Festival, Srinagar Kashmir and New Delhi, India

 

2016

:Habitat Photosphere, Art in the Metro - Jor Bagh Metro Station, New Delhi, India
:Book Illustration exhibition, Doodle Festival, Noida, India

:West meets East, Galeriile de Artă, Focsani, Romania

:Book Illustrators Gallery (BIG) exhibition, Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore

:West meets East, Biblioteca Judeţeană “Marin Preda”, Alexandria, Romania

 
 
2015

:West meets East, National Association for Visual Arts Contemporary & National University of Arts Bucharest, Romania
:Inaugural Auction 2015, ArtDeal Auction House, New Delhi, India

:Open Studio, Can Serrat International Art Center, Barcelona, Spain 

:Chandigarh Children's Literature Festival, Chandigarh, India

:Bookaroo Literature Festival, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

2014
:Woman Times, Korean Cultural Center, New Delhi, India
:Future cities- UnBox Festival, IGNCA, New Delhi, India
:BOOKART, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, India 
:Hanji Plus, Korean Cultural Center, New Delhi, India
:ALTER-NATIVES OF MAINSTREAM ART, Artspeaks India, New Delhi, India

:Animation Film Festival, Gothe Institut, Chennai, India

2013
:R.A.P.E., Art Bull, New Delhi, India
:Art for Life, The Lalit Kala Akademi , New Delhi, India
:The Writer's Bug Literature Festival, Mumbai, India

   
2012
:New India Designscape, Triennale Design Museum, Milan, Italy
:Video Wednesday II, Gallery Espace, New Delhi, India
:Small is Big, Durbar Hall Gallery, Kochi, India
:Now Asia Contemporary, Uijeongbu Arts Center, Seoul, Korea 
:The Speaking House,  Durbar Hall Gallery, Kochi, India
:ASYAAF, Hongik museum of Art, Seoul, Korea
:United Art Fair, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India 
:West meets East, National Museum of Art, Constanta, Romania
:Roti Kapda Makaan, Ojas Art, New Delhi, India
:Circling the Confluence, Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
:Dramatics of Diverse Interpretation/Perspectives, Art Konsult, New Delhi, India

2011
:A4 Arple, Gallery Ragini, New Delhi, India
:Art Bull Autumn Auction, Art Konsult, New Delhi, India 
:Altered Perception, The Diesel Store, Mumbai, India
:New Indian Film and Animation, ICA Gallery, LASALLE, Singapore
:Thinking Spaces, Exhibit 320, New Delhi, India
:VAF@The Guild, The Guild, Mumbai, India

2010
:Film Festival, Hera Gallery, Rhode Island, USA
:The Transforming State, Religare Arts.I, New Delhi, India
:The Infinite Form of Rainbows, The Viewing Room, Mumbai, India
:Asian festival of Children’s Content, BIG, The Arts House, Singapore
 

Before 2010

:SIGGRAPH Asia Film Festival, Singapore'08 
:Annecy International Animated Film Festival, Annecy, France'08 
:9th Mumbai International Film Festival, Mumbai, '06
:NID Film Festival, Ahmedabad, India'06
:6th Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival, New York, USA'06 
:Golden Elephant International Film Festival, Hyderabad, India'05
:Nova Cinema Film Festival, Brussels, Belgium'05
:Anifest India Film Festival, Mumbai, India'05

 

Children's Books:

:Comixense (Illustrator), Ektara Trust 

:The Nest (Illustrator), Navakarnataka Publications & Tata Trust

:Vini's Garden (Illustrator), Children's Book Trust
:North, South, East, West (Illustrator), Pratham Books

:Amma (Author and Illustrator), Jugnoo Prakashan, Ektara Trust 

:Jiske Pass Chali Gai Meri Zameen, Jugnoo Prakashan, Ektara Trust 

:Ramayana: The Quest To Rescue Sita (Illustrator), World Scientific

:Taj Mahal:The Story of a Wonder of the World (Illustrator), Talking Cub

:Pakdam Pakdai(Illustrator), Room to Read India Trust

:Neela Darwaja (Illustrator), Jugnoo Prakashan, Ektara Trust 

:The Mahabharata(10 books)(Illustrator), Rupa Publications

:Wet or Dry (Illustrator), Pratham Books

:Welcome to the Forest (Illustrator), Pratham Books

:Rocket's Day Out (Illustrator), Storyweaver

:The Dot that went for a walk (Illustrator), Caterpillar Wings

:Words Of Wonder A to Z (Illustrator), Wonder House

:Good Night World (6 books) (Illustrator), Good Night Books

:My Big Book of Girls (Illustrator), Katha Books
:Spot! (Illustrator), Pratham Books, Storyweaver
:17 Seen Unseen (Author and Illustrator), UNESCO MGIEP

:Dungi Dance (Illustrator), Tulika Publishers
:Ari (Illustrator), Tulika Publishers 
:Bluie’s world (Author and Illustrator), Storyweaver
:The Mysteries Series(3 books) (Illustrator), Rupa Publications
:Ranganna (Illustrator), Tulika Publishers
:My Facebook Friends (Author and Illustrator), Tulika Publisher
:Grade 3 Art Project Book (Illustrator), Art1st
:Jalebi Curls (Illustrator), Tulika Publisher
:Looking Around (Illustrator), NCERT
:Brahma’s Butterfly (Illustrator), Tulika Publisher
:Chham Chham Payal (Illustrator), ILFS and UNICEF
:Pavo Cavo (Illustrator), Tulika Publisher
:Ashoka’s Dairy (Illustrator), ILFS
:Avneet Aunty’s Mobile Phone (Author and Illustrator), Tulika Publisher
:Bheet (Illustrator), Avehi-Abacus Project
:Polio (Illustrator), ILFS and UNICEF

Artist Statement

Kavita Singh Kale (Born, Himachal Pradesh, India) studied BFA Painting from College of Art, Delhi University and PG Animation from National Institute of Design, Ahmadabad, India. Kavita’s background as an artist and a designer enables her to draw a thin line between- design fallowing functionality verses pure self-expression. This temperament has evolved her as a Trasnmedia Artist and her curiosity is to explore ideas from holistic point of view of visual media, where there are no constraints or boundaries for the spectrum of techniques or the use of abundant technology. She works in a variety of media including installations, sculptures, book art, paintings, and videos.

Winner of couple of Promax awards, she was the recipient of the UnBox Labs British Council Fellowship in 2014, Darsana National Book Award in 2013, Silver Conch Award at Mumbai International Film Festival in 2006 and IBDA Award in 2005.

Kavita was recently an artist in residence at Can Serrat Art Centre in 2015 and UnBox Labs in 2014. She has been part of many film and literature festival such as Annecy International Animated Film Festival, SIGGRAPH Asia, Bookaroo, AFCC Singapore and has shown her work at the New India Designscape at Triennale Design Museum in Milan, Uijeongbu Arts Center in Seoul, National Museum of Art at Constanta in Romania.

People around me- strangers, acquaintance, family and friends are the building blocks for my narratives. Society categorized common people as identifiers based on many aspects from socio- economic conditions to linguistic backgrounds. This nullify the true characteristics of individuals and as an artist, my intervention is to break the stereotype cliché and build stories around individuals by closely observing them and creating microcosmic environment of barest minimal- essentials. 

In past two years, Kavita has interpreted elements of nature as demigods who are in conflict with the monsters that have mutated from the by-products of human consumption. The series of narrative artworks describe a state of the enigma- where battles between the two groups are undecided with the display of power struggle.

Open Source Ideas For Young Entrepreneurs and Gear Up (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayvGD709HZY&feature=youtu.be) are based on case of Nirbhaya Delhi gang rape. The video talks about some hypothetical concepts of future gadgets for self-defense from predators. On the other hand STRI 1.0 - Even she has safety bugs is about women being vulnerable even if they are geared up. STRI 1.0 is a comment on a system that has completely failed to give women her right to live without fear.

The close integrated broadcast work that Kavita does as a filmmaker opened doors to inside stories of people involved in the film industry, where she has compressed narratives of these individuals doing their part behind the camera to get the perfect frame of glitz and glamour. Paintings like Item Number, Planet Bollywood, Mumbia Ishtyle and Daydreamers depict other side of the industry where hundreds of very skilled migrants, come to a point to fulfill their dreams. The works like Youth Potion, Cluster, Second Life Mutation and Size Zero are based on the influences of nation’s economy with the pros and cons of youth behavioral patterns.

Motherhood opened doors to new experiences that led to documentation of day-to-day life in sketchbooks. This extended to spontaneous artistic expression. These events that affect my life- consciously or subconsciously is expressed through art works like Lalaland, Pink Vs Blue, Shopping Spree, Sleeping on the Pillow and Life takes a full circle.

Fragile Strings Attached and the video art Arrested Fast Forward (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9jFAye4JR4) are about sudden flux of Delhi’s growing economy and urban development, while it has its own repercussion on common people. The Idea further led to New India Designscape art installation, for La Triennale di Milano museum in Italy. 

Kavita's latest stint was with UNESCO MGIEP when she got the opportunity to co-author and illustrate a graphic novel along with Santosh Kale for children. The book is based on UN's 17 sustainable development goals.17 Seen Unseen, a graphic novel