This week’s profile is of award-winning Digital media artist Daksh Sahni, a rising star in the field of digital fine art. He came smashing into the art world with his Los Angeles premier a few months ago. Now, he has a new show opening at Hinge Parallel, a contemporary art gallery in Culver City on May 17th.

Visual artist Daksh Sahni’s life journey is a story that blends the contrasting ideas of structure and chaos. He grew up in India, his father an architect, his mother an artist in her own right, Sahni’s very existence embodying the seeming contradiction between rigid symmetry and free flowing inspiration.  Sahni’s life, it would seem, was destined to walk the tightrope between these extremes, and if his latest gallery exhibit is any indication, he has learned the walk quite well.

Sahni began his academic career studying architecture at Sushant School of Art & Architecture in New Delhi before going on to pursue a master’s degree at UCLA. As though his genes demanded it, Sahni sought out both world class architects and respected artists during his school years, particularly in the emerging field of digital fine art. He spent as much time as he could in the media arts department and worked with the likes of Bill Seaman, Greg Lynn and Jennifer Stienkemp.  “They were really pushing the boundaries of art and technology back then, and still are,”  Sahni says, “I was very lucky to have had the opportunity and exposure.”

Shortly after graduating, Sahni landed his first job was with a digital entertainment company that specialized in creating video games – Luxoflux which was later acquired by Activision. Unsurprisingly, the work utilized both his natural eye for aesthetics and his technical expertise in building structure. He planned, designed, and “built” the in-game digital buildings for the blockbuster games True Crime, Call of Duty and Spiderman.

The computer programs and design techniques he used to create those digital skylines were precursors to methods he now uses in his own art.

Sahni describes his images this way:  “My work is an individual journey, a metaphor and demonstration of the desire for order and the liberation of being free; symmetry and asymmetry. I strive for visual harmony, oscillating between the ordered and the chaotic, dramatically realizing the effect of change. Through my art, I explore the tension between the safety in structure and a deep yearning to trust the non-linear unfolding of life and ultimately to fully participate in the vivid journey we share.”

This is, of course, about more than images on canvas or a screen. Sahni’s recent fulltime foray into the world of fine art still feels fresh. For Sahni, his art is a reflection of his own personal growth as a human being , and the freedom these new opportunities present.

“The toughest part has been learning  to let go of ‘safety’ in structure… A lot of my work is about this transition and change. I’ve had a solid corporate job for 12+ years. It’s been a  tough transition –but I’m very excited about what lies ahead.”

The person who supports him the most is his wife, Simone Alexandrino, who is also an artist. Sahni credits her as his muse and a major inspiration for his art. Even though their preferred mediums are very different Sahni says they still, “work together a lot, inspiring each other to keep moving forward on this journey.”

Sahni takes a positive view of his recent transition, saying that the chaos drives his art forward. Pure unadorned symmetry would not be nearly as interesting. “The search in the midst of chaos is what keeps me going.”

You can view some of Sahni’s art on his website dakshsahni.com, or, if you are in the Los Angeles area, he invites you to check out his latest exhibit that opens at Hinge Parallel in Culver City, on May 17th. Prolab Digital was honored to partner with Daksh in producing the brushed aluminum dibond pieces that will be on display at the show.

For more information about the upcoming exhibit please visit: http://www.hingeparallel.com/simone-alexandrinodaksh-sahni/.

 SHOW INFO

Opening Date – May 17th.

Reception – 6-8 pm

Duration of the show – May 17th – June 14th

Address : 8545 Washington Blvd Culver City 90232

Email: [email protected] Phone: 310-559-8800

For more information about Prolab Digital’s professional prints for artists please contact us (310-846-4496) or visit our website prolabdigital.com.