Artist Exhibition Reviews
Vivek Vadoliya
& When the Seeds Fell
What does it mean to be an artist, caregiver and eldest son?
How do these roles influence your path, coming from a cross-cultural family in a post-colonial world?
These questions sit at the heart of Vivek Vadoliya's solo exhibition '& When the Seeds Fell'.
Throughout his career, themes of identity, place and community have been present in his art practice, however where this body of work goes further is the deeply autobiographical content, his confidence as a photographer belying the difficulty in tackling influences not easily reconciled.
Across varied media from installation to moving image, photography and archive footage, his signature warm palette complements the conceptual dialogue and yet lends a sense of enlightenment, comfort and hope.
Recent experience was significant in forming the body of work - Vivek writes:
“When my mother fell ill, I began photographing her as a way of connecting and coping. This period marked a shift in my practice, opening new questions around care, home, and emotional inheritance. The camera became more than a tool—it became a way to understand the evolving roles within family and the fragility of self during moments of transition.”
Art history abounds with examples of image makers who have had difficulty aligning their creative journey with their familial responsibilities. This is confronted most clearly in a tender portrait of his mother, symbols of their shared cultural background placed within a composition referencing the works of Johannes Vermeer.
In another image, a packaged loaf of bread is quotidian yet emblematic of recent family struggle. Slices of Kingsmill will be a product familiar to many Britons, but for Vivek it’s also representative of parental employment, depreciation, and erasure.
Vivek's mastery in crafting considered scenes is evident throughout the show, alongside candid documentary images. However for me, it’s the inclusion of his father’s motorcycle, which encapsulates this highly personal and complex presentation of his journey, both in life and in art.
J. Mauger
July 2025
