How We Started
Our collective endeavour was conceived during the challenging times of the COVID19 Pandemic when our co-founders, Natasha Jeyasingh (Carpe Arte India) and Al-Qawi Nanavati (Young Art Support India), recognized the urgent need of young artists—who were unable to showcase their works in public and private art spaces due to lockdown restrictions. For more than 1.5 years, they diligently exhibited these artists' artworks online, nurturing a much needed creative and financial ecosystem for them. Siddharth Somaiya was a patron, supporting many of these talented individuals championed by Natasha and Al-Qawi.
As the pandemic drew to a close, Siddharth Somaiya, with the support of Samir Somaiya, envisioned Somaiya Vidyavihar as the ideal space to exhibit select works from some of these artists. Upon visiting the campus, Natasha and Al-Qawi were captivated by the potential of bringing such an exhibition to fruition within this dynamic campus environment, and out of the traditional art gallery setting. Their enthusiasm led to the inception of our collective endeavor.
Recognizing the need for expert curation, Natasha and Al-Qawi proposed engaging Shaleen Wadhwana as the curator for the first exhibition, which she titled, Immerse. That is how we arrived at our name - from the title of our first exhibition! Shaleen, deeply inspired by the concept, became the fourth co-founder, contributing significantly to the program's educational framework and mentoring of our Fellows. In the second edition of Immerse, we expanded to include a Curator Fellow, who would be expertly mentored by Shaleen in areas of exhibition design and curatorial writing.
Shri Samir Somaiya’s vision is for IMMERSE to evolve into an event so large that our collective endeavour transcends multiple buildings across our 50-acre Ghatkopar campus in the heart of Mumbai. This grand vision aims to transform IMMERSE into a focal point for artistic expression in Mumbai during its three-week duration. We aspire to achieve this goal in the future.
Why We Exist
IMMERSE is a catalyst for transformative change within the realm of art. Navigating the intensely competitive art landscape poses significant challenges for emerging young artists and curators. Our fundamental objective was to forge a distinctive platform, one that intimately acquaints these budding artists and curators with the intricate tapestry of the art world, and vice versa. The first decade of an art professional’s career is crucial to how they shape the rest of it.
We endeavor to immerse the viewer into the artist's realm, offering an immersive encounter with their creativity via their studios at Somaiya Vidyavihar University. The convergence of these experiences intertwines the worlds of the creator and the observer, creating a long lasting connection.
Vision
Immerse aims to establish itself as the foremost Fellowship and Residency program for discovering the coming generations of exceptional Indian artists and curators. Along with discovery, we aim to teach and train about dynamically changing practical needs in the artworld which ensure that our Fellows meet every challenge with a comprehensive understanding.
What We Offer Our Fellows
As IMMERSE is proudly presented and supported by Somaiya Vidyavihar University, our core emphasis lies in fostering a robust pedagogical framework which ranges from practical life skills like art stakeholder management to technical skills like art writing, exhibition design, and arts appreciation. Our commitment revolves around nurturing our artists and curators towards achieving both commercial success and critical acclaim.
During the Mumbai Gallery Weekend (MGW), our fellows convene in Mumbai, gaining first-hand exposure and establishing connections with leading gallerists, writers, curators and more. Upon returning in April for an extended month-long residency, Somaiya Vidyavihar University sponsors travel stipends and covers all food & accommodation expenses throughout their stay in Mumbai.
Leveraging the expansive network of Somaiya Vidyavihar, Shaleen, Natasha, and Al-Qawi, we facilitate direct interactions between our artists and curator with prominent Mumbai arts ecosystem stakeholders. This includes providing dedicated studio spaces for each artist to spend meaningful time with our visitors and walk them through their entire art-making process, along with the curated exhibition displaying their artworks.
Furthermore, we have special mentorship sessions led by art writers, tech experts exhibition designers, archivists for holistic nourishment. In the past, distinguished figures such as Anish Gawande; on crafting compelling artist statements, Parth Taco; on art and technology interventions to Deepti Sassidharan; offering valuable insights into art materials and their long term preservation. We also host panel discussions with artists, gallerists and curators, like in 2022 with Hena Kapadia (Gallery Director, TARQ), Veeranganakumari Solanki (Curator) and Sameer Kulavoor (Artist and Designer). We have had collaborative artist presentations with Chemould CoLab, in 2023, where all residency artists from both institutions presented their artistic journey through their portfolios and a conversation with artist Atul Dodiya at Chemould Prescott Road. Internally, throughout the Fellowship, artists and curators are part of in-house sessions on financial and practical know-how, which equip them with invaluable tools for their life and career journey.
Curatorial Fellow
We take pride in being among the few residencies in the country that extend a comprehensive platform not only to artists but also to emerging curators. India boasts a wealth of young intellects and aspiring curators, yet opportunities to explore remain scarce. We annually provide a stage for young curators, with the freedom to experiment with compelling curatorial theses, fostering their growth within this domain.
Our Curatorial Fellow receives an invaluable opportunity to be trained and mentored under the guidance of Shaleen Wadhwana. This mentorship delves into the essence of curatorial practice, offering hands-on experience in conceptualizing and executing an exhibition from its inception to completion.
IMMERSE Annual Show
At the culmination of each IMMERSE program, we curate an exhibition where artists showcase their works aligned with a specific curatorial theme devised by the selected Curatorial Fellow with Shaleen. A distinguishing feature of our showcase is that all proceeds from the sale of artworks directly benefit the artists. We steadfastly adhere to a principle where no commission is retained from any founder and 100% of the sale goes directly to the artist, aligning with our fellowship's core mission of ensuring maximum financial support for our artists.
In addition to the exhibition, our artists have the opportunity to sell their artworks during open studio events. Remarkably, we've witnessed instances where patrons have shown immense appreciation by purchasing entire sketchbooks from our artists. Our extensive network of collectors adds an element of unpredictability, creating an exciting environment where artistic creations find appreciative homes.
Notably, what sets us apart is our steadfast commitment towards as much financial support for our artists—where we neither levy any commission on the artists' sales nor expect artworks in exchange for the residency or infrastructure we provide to build an institutional or private collection. The curator is also provided with a significant stipend for extending their service towards exhibition making. This unique approach emphasizes our unwavering dedication to empowering artists and fostering a supportive environment for their creative pursuits, with the support of the Indian arts ecosystem and their encouragement.