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ABOUT ME

Vivann is profoundly dedicated to using natural light for portraits, as it provides the most genuine and flattering illumination. The interaction between natural light and textures adds depth and enhances the subject, resulting in vivid and compelling images. He favors natural light over artificial sources for its unmatched ambiance.

A fine arts graduate from Chitra Kala Parishad in Bangalore, Vivann’s artistic journey began with his ground breaking “Drawings Through Fire” technique, capturing high-speed light patterns created by a moving candle in a dark room. His passion for low-light photography led to visually stunning images that push conventional boundaries.

For over 18 years, Vivann has excelled as an Advertising Photographer and Art Director. He began his career in fashion photography for a magazine before transitioning into advertising, where he has collaborated with esteemed clients such as Brigade Group, Britannia, Bosch, Gardens, and Embassy. Vivann is known for pioneering a dynamic, cinematic style that captures and conveys stories within a single frame—whether hinting at a concept or showcasing multiple aspects in a series. His profound understanding of photography and limitless creativity enable him to work in layers, providing diverse dimensions and perspectives in his images.

Vivann’s distinctive style captures each image with originality and depth, consistently reflecting his artistic vision and preference for natural light, setting him apart from trends. His work has been widely exhibited, both nationally and internationally, including a prominent architecture showcase at Contemporary Venice, Palazzo Bembo in Venice, Italy, in October 2022. He has also received multiple international awards, recognizing his exceptional contributions to photography.

 

 

AWARDS

2021

International Color Awards- 1 Nomination

2020

The Spider Awards- 1 Honorable Mention

The Spider Awards- 2 Nomination

International Color Awards- 3 Nomination

 

2019

ND Awards 2019- 2 Honorable Mention

International Photography Awards (IPA) 2019- 1 Honorable Mention

Monovisions Photography Awards 2019- 1 Honorable Mention

The Spider Awards- 1 Nomination

2018

Monochrome Photography Awards 2018- 4 Honorable Mention

International Color Awards- 1 Nomination

The Spider Award- 1 Nomination

Fine Art Photography Awards- 1 Nomination

2017

Monochrome Photography Awards 2017- 1 Honorable Mention

ViewBug Food Photography 2017 & 2018-  Finalist

News Reviews & Awards

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DRAWING THROUGH FIRE

Drawing Through Fire by Vivann Varghese (Viji) is a distinctive artistic experiment that brings together the seemingly different mediums of drawing, photography, light and fire. Instead of using a conventional brush or pencil, Vivann uses the flame of a candle as his drawing instrument and a camera as the means of recording his creations. By moving the candle rapidly in a dark room and using a slow shutter speed, he transforms the movement of the flame into luminous lines and forms. The resulting images portray horses, women, birds, mother and child, as well as various abstract compositions. Through this innovative process, Vivann demonstrates that art can be created from unexpected materials and through unconventional methods.

The different writers who reviewed Vivann’s work bring out various dimensions of this unusual technique. Niju, in An Artifact on Fire, describes Vivann’s work as the creation of a “nova genre” in art. He emphasizes the combination of brute force, beauty, the burlesque, abstraction and imagination, showing how the artist’s creative mind transforms fire into artistic forms. Niju also points out that Vivann’s work challenges the earlier hesitation to consider photography as a serious artistic medium.

Marta Jakimowicz-Karle, writing in the Deccan Herald in her review Technical Allure (November 13, 2000), concentrates particularly on the technical and visual qualities of the works. She observes how the luminosity and fluidity produced by the candle flame create striking images. She also notes that some of the most successful abstract works are those that remain restrained, using only a few forms, subtle variations and quiet rhythms. Her review therefore highlights Vivann’s ability to combine technical experimentation with artistic discipline.

In The Times of India, Bangalore, on November 12, 2000, H. A. Anil Kumar, in Drawings and Photographs Mirror Reality, explains the actual process behind Vivann’s creations. He describes how Vivann moves the candle in darkness as though he were drawing with a pencil, while a camera records the movement of the flame. Kumar points out the difficulty of achieving a perfect drawing because the movement must be fast and continuous, and slowing it down can result in excessive brightness and blurring. His review helps the reader understand the relationship between Vivann’s imagination, the movement of fire and the photographic process.

Vinu Abraham, writing in The Week magazine in the article Candle in the Wind (April 1, 2001), provides a broader account of Vivann’s artistic journey. He explains that Vivann’s interest in candlelight photography developed from his earlier experiments with painting, sculpture and photography. Abraham describes how Vivann spent years experimenting with the technique and produced around 125 photographs, with horses, women and mother-and-child images among his favourites. He also brings attention to the patience, physical effort and financial difficulties involved in this form of art. His article therefore presents not only the artistic achievement but also the struggles faced by Vivann in gaining recognition and support.

Finally, Anitha K. Moosath, writing in The Hindu on January 7, 2002, further explores the originality of Vivann’s “drawings in fire.” She explains that the artist whirls a lighted candle in darkness and uses a camera with a slow shutter speed to capture the impressions of the flame. Moosath notes that the technique, although not entirely new in photography, is being applied by Vivann for an unusual artistic purpose. She particularly admires his ability to outline horses with remarkable dexterity and explains that horses became one of his favourite motifs because their agility complements the spontaneity of fire. Her article also places Vivann’s photographic experiments within his wider career as a painter and sculptor.

Taken together, the writings of Niju, Marta Jakimowicz-Karle, H. A. Anil Kumar, Vinu Abraham and Anitha K. Moosath present Vivann Varghese as an artist driven by experimentation, imagination and perseverance. Their reviews show that Drawing Through Fire is not merely a collection of unusual photographs but an attempt to expand the possibilities of artistic expression. Vivann challenges the conventional distinction between drawing and photography by making the camera record a drawing created directly through light.

Ultimately, Vivann’s work proves that creativity does not depend upon traditional tools alone. In his hands, the candle becomes a brush, fire becomes a line, darkness becomes the background, and the camera becomes the canvas. His Drawing Through Fire therefore stands as an innovative example of how experimentation can create new possibilities in art and how an ordinary element such as a flame can be transformed into something imaginative, expressive and visually powerful.

CLIENTELE

Brigade Group
Britannia
Bosch
Gardens
Embassy
Restolex
RMKV

BIA, Bioline
Dude & Dame
HCG
Anu Solar
Fly Mobile, Golden Gate
Himalaya
Central

Toss
Milan Fashion
Big Basket
Sunny Brooks
Healthway Ayurveda
MNSA Jewels
VP Architects

Vivannvarghese © 2020.
Professional Photographer
vivann@gmail.com
+91 98453 24961
Bangalore, India