Bio
Ujwal Mantha is an interdisciplinary artist based in Toronto, Canada. Born in India, Ujwal uses his art to explore narrative and its relation to the construction of culture, identity, and imagination. He is currently in his fourth year of study at the University of Toronto Scarborough pursuing a double major in sociology and the studio arts. His work varies in medium, from sculpture to digital art. Ujwal's work has been featured in both university exhibitions and art festivals in Toronto. These include; Gallery 1265 (2018-2019), ARTSIDEOUT (2019-2020) and the annual juried studio exhibition (2018-2020).
Abstract
The Visual Dictionary of Sociology Project is a faculty- student project, in partnership with Professor Kathy Liddle of the Sociology department. Funded by the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Toronto Scarborough, it involved the creation of a collection of images that illustrate core sociological concepts. The artist’s skill of conceptualising abstract concepts was further honed through regular consultations with Professor Liddle. These images were then successfully used in a first-year introductory Sociology course to encourage critical engagement with the content amongst the students.
For the artist, the process of creating these images directed him to experiment with symbols and motifs, to create coherent visual narratives. This allowed him to visually depict complex, abstract concepts. The artist was encouraged to imagine the ultimate creation of a visual language that allowed complex, abstract ideas to be conveyed in a way that transcended language and cultural barriers.