Vivek Mariappan (b. 1991) is a visual artist and photographer based in Chennai, India, originally from Erode. Working across photography and moving images, his artistic practice explores the relationship between space, memory, and belonging, examining how places are experienced, remembered, and understood over time. Rooted in sustained observation, his work moves between domestic interiors, urban environments, and rural landscapes, informed by both analogue and digital photographic processes.
His commercial practice focuses on automotive, architecture, and environmental portraiture, with clients including Ashok Leyland, Hyundai, BYD, and The Telegraph (London). He currently serves as the Product Head for analogue brands including Ilford and Kodak at Srishti Digilife India, while conducting workshops on film photography and analogue image-making processes across the country.
Vivek is available for commissions, collaborations, workshops, and lectures worldwide.
Selected works are available as fine art prints.
exhibitions
Vaanyerum Vizhuthugal (Roots that reach for the sky) - Group Exhibition - As close as it gets // April, 2025 // Museum of Photography // Bengaluru, India
As close as it gets // February, 2025 // India Art Fair // Delhi, India
Vaanyerum Vizhuthugal (Roots that reach for the sky) - Group Exhibition - As close as it gets // December, 2024 // Chennai Photo Biennale // Chennai, India
Happiness and Effort - Group Exhibition - Inner Sanctum // September, 2019 // Pingyao International Photography Festival // Pingyao, China
View: India - Group Exhibition - Inner Sanctum // June, 2019 // Landskrona Foto x Copenhagen Foto Festival // Landskrona, Sweden
Hometown - Group Exhibition - Inner Sanctum // March, 2018 // Ueberall x Goethe Institute x Chennai Photo Biennale // Chennai, India
artist residencies / awards & shortlists
Winner - Landskrona Foto Spring Residency // May-June, 2019 // Landskrona, Sweden
Shortlisted - Chennai Photo Biennale’s Reimagining The Family Portrait Artist Residency Program // 2019 // Chennai, India
artist talks
Spatial Narratives through Lens // July, 2025 // Presented at the Museum of Photography // Bangalore, India
Poelitics of the Multitudes // December, 2024 // Presented at the Goethe Institute // Chennai, India
teaching & workshop engagements
Film Fundamentals: Introduction to Analogue Photography Workshop Series // Since 2023 (Ongoing) // Developed and conducted analogue photography workshops across colleges, institutions, and photographic communities in India.
- Delivered 25+ workshops engaging over 700 participants through lectures, demonstrations, and hands- on learning in film photography, processing, and darkroom
practices.
publications / features / catalogues
The Telegraph Magazine // Editorial Photography Feature // August 2025
Art India Magazine // Feature on As Close as It Gets // March 2025
Landskrona Foto View: India, Catalogue // Contemporary photography & Lens based art from India // 2019 // Landskrona, Sweden
Art : Das Kunstmagazin - Lehren aus dem Lockdown // June, 2019 // Berlin, Germany
Katalog Journal of Photography - Contemporary Indian Photography // January, 2021 // Copenhagen, Denmark
Politiken MAD - Når Vivek fotograferer et køkken, mærker han et hjem // February, 2021 // Copenhagen, Denmark
workshops attended
‘Hometown’ Photography Workshop by Ueberall x Chennai Photo Biennale // March, 2018 // Chennai, India
‘Darkroom Workshop’ by Analogue Approach Project x Murthy Nayak Foundation // September, 2022 // Delhi, India