Dr Kamini Vellodi: Philosopher, Art Historian, and Curator
Dr Kamini Vellodi is a distinguished academic, writer, and curator who works at the demanding intersection of contemporary art theory, philosophy, and art history. She is a prominent figure in UK art education, currently serving as the Head of Programme, MA Painting at the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London.
Dr Vellodi's work is characterised by its intellectual rigour and its deep engagement with Continental philosophy. Her research explores fundamental questions about art history, aesthetics, and the nature of the image. Key publications include her book, Tintoretto's Difference: Deleuze, Diagrammatics and Art History (Bloomsbury, 2019), and her co-edited collection, Grey on Grey: At the Threshold of Philosophy and Art (Edinburgh University Press, 2023).
Contributions to Aleph Contemporary
Dr Vellodi has made several key contributions to Aleph Contemporary, demonstrating her versatility as a curator, critical essayist, and interviewer.
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Curator, Transfigured Archetypes: She curated the exhibition Marcelle Hanselaar: Transfigured Archetypes (February – March 2022). In her curatorial statement, she framed Hanselaar’s figurative paintings as explorations of liminality and becoming-other, moving from the barbarity of crowds to the cosmic cycle embodied by the sea.
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Writer and Interviewer, Poetics of Obsolescence: Dr Vellodi provided a critical essay for Laurence Noga's solo exhibition, Poetics of Obsolescence. In her text, she analysed Noga's use of found objects as "humble, anachronic portals to other times," exploring the interplay between the symbolic and the formal in his constructed paintings. She further supported the exhibition by conducting an in-depth video interview with Laurence Noga.
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Interviewer, Alastair Gordon: She also conducted a thoughtful video interview with painter Alastair Gordon, providing a strong academic framework for discussing his practice and commitment to painting as a continuous mode of thought.
Dr Vellodi's involvement highlights Aleph Contemporary's commitment to dialogue that places the practice of painting into serious conversation with contemporary European philosophy and critical theory.