Between Living Heritage of Indian Tradition and Alternative Photographic Mastery.
Between tradition and the observation of everyday life, the work of Hetvi Bhanawala is born. A contemporary visual artist with a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts specializing in painting, her fascination with observation emerged in childhood, fueled by story-filled coloring books. This curiosity culminated in a solid academic background where she explored sculpture and photography before diving into alternative photographic processes. It was here that the artist found her most authentic voice, transforming fleeting moments into lasting and experimental visual impressions.
“I love to capture the ‘Glimpse’ of everyday life, the small moments which we don’t bother to notice.”
Light and Shadow Series
It was through the Cyanotype technique that the artist truly found her path. Known as one of the earliest photographic printing methods in history, the process uses a light-sensitive solution that, when applied to a surface and exposed to sunlight, reveals a deep and unique shade of blue. For Hetvi, this technique transcends the medium, becoming a way to capture the traces of light and time.
“The quiet moment of waiting to see how the image would reveal itself is what drew me deeper into the process.”
Furthermore, the artist masters “Tonings” a chemical and natural process that achieves brownish tones, lending an archival and timeless aesthetic to her pieces. Her practice is even more innovative as she applies these methods to various substrates such as wood, clay, shells, and handmade papers.
“Spending time observing these transitions made me more aware of light as an active presence rather than just something that illuminates objects. That experience became a turning point in the way I began thinking about images and eventually led me toward working more directly with light as a material.”
Hetvi also utilizes the Anthotype, an even more organic process that uses natural pigments extracted from plants and flowers (such as turmeric). Unlike Cyanotype, which reacts in a matter of minutes, Anthotype demands patience, as images can take days to appear. This results in works that evolve and fade gently over time, reinforcing the idea of ephemerality and the “glimpse” of daily life.
“For me, the process continues to be a space where intuition and patience come together, allowing everyday moments to slowly transform into images through time and attention.”
During a trek to Sar Pass, surrounded by nature, Hetvi found herself in a moment of deep reflection and personal reconnection with observation. The artist explores Indian traditionals through three- frame compositions that integrate harmoniously into interior design. Her work goes beyond aesthetics to include space curation, using interior styling to demonstrate how art dialogues with spaces andaudiences in different contexts. This dedication also led her to participate in World Cyanotype Day, celebrating this solar art on a global scale.
In a fast-paced world, Hetvi’s work is a manifesto to ‘Slow Art’. Each piece carries days of solar exposure and the patience of a process that cannot be rushed by technology.
Currently, Hetvi Bhanawala uses her digital platforms (@visualll.art) to promote and sell her creations. To acquire one of her pieces is to own a fragment of light and shadow, meticulously transferred onto unexpected surfaces, merging Indian cultural heritage with the vanguard of alternative photography.
Available artworks for sale.