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Artist statement
In 1996, I found an unused diary from 1969. In it, I started to make a drawing a day, a process which evolved into a drawing about that day’s experiences.
This project has since formed the core basis of all my work and has grown into a daily ritual. Currently spanning over 4,000 entries, the visual diaries have become a personal archive of moments, meta-content and ideas.
The day’s pivotal moments and experiences are documented and distilled, social interactions are captured and explored. Stories and narratives form and interweave with dreams and memories. Real life news and popular culture contextualise and date-stamp the daily entries.
Every entry is complete in itself and is usually made using watercolour, inks, pencils, collage or relevant media from that day, poetry, prose and even parking tickets.
Colours, tones, lines and words describe the moment. Spatial relationships, proximities and time-lines attempt to hide/reveal what happened. Sometimes past events echo and manifest themselves again in future entries. Often parts of yesterday’s entry come through the paper and become intrinsic to the next day’s work.
Working in the diaries has helped me to explore my place in the world as well as perceptions and representations of the things and events that are around me. It has allowed me to reflect of living in England, learn of my (Punjabi) background and of where I might be heading.
Recent travels to India have shown me new ceremonies, traditions and experiences which I am finding are slowly filtering in to my work and are adding a different dimension to my understanding of the world.
These cross-cultural, journalistic works have been described as modern day British-Indian miniature paintings.
Related works include alternative versions, re-imaginings and re-interpretations as sequential art. Derived works are made using painted, drawn, written and computer-generated/scanned and photographic methods.
Nirmal has work and commissions is various private, corporate and educational collections. He is also an accomplished and award-winning interactive / graphic designer and illustrator.
The diaries have recently been shown on BBC television, radio and on internet sites.
A drawing a day
You can see excerpts and details of paintings in the section above and throughout the site, more to follow.
Nirmal Dhiman Visual Diary index:
1996 (1969), 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006,
2007, 2008
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Currently looking for more exhibition and artist book showing opportunities.
Nirm on Le Book
View the Nirm on Le Book portfolio here.