Vir Kotak

In Vir Kotak’s new body of work, he delves into the blurred boundaries between digital and analogue in an era dominated by media processing. He questions the ability to categorize work distinctly, especially in an increasingly collaborative world where the lines between creation and collaboration are often indistinguishable.
Titled “Inks and Tones won’t Break My Bones,” the series is crafted solely by Vir in his studio, devoid of collaboration. However, the final product is digitally printed by Vir himself, thereby juxtaposing and undermining the analogue and digital processes involved. The artworks consist of layered prints, collages, digital collages, drawings, watercolors, inks, and prints of prints, creating a vast array of materials from which Vir constructs his images while adhering to his core aesthetic.
The resulting pieces, often printed on Japanese washi paper or high-quality digital print paper, are non-editioned works, challenging the duplicability of digital versus traditional analog methods. Embracing this hybrid identity, Vir allows new variations to emerge from these building blocks, creating sub-bodies of work such as digital collages layered with multilayered manual processes.