Artwork

Indra Moroder is a London-based visual artist, whose semi-abstract paintings explore the unconscious mind, nature, and the state of utopia. Primarily interested in surrealism, the Jungian concepts of synchronicity (referring to meaningful coincidences in life) and the unity of opposing forces (the unity of the conscious and the unconscious, or feminine and masculine energies), Indra translates otherworldly experiences into mystical, ethereal landscapes on the canvas. She explains: “We all have hidden, archetypal images within us as memories, fantasies and visions. My paintings give shape to this intangible, private world, by capturing experiences of synchronicity, idyllic memories of landscapes lost to human extractivism, and my hopes for a utopian future, where opposites are united.”  

With a background in fashion design, Indra went on to work for prominent brands including Costume National and Missoni, whose iconic colour archive, inspired by the modernist art of the 20th century, ignited her interest in fine art. After a ten-year-long career as a designer, and some time spent at ArtReview Magazine’s publishing team, Moroder became a full-time artist, obtaining an MA in Fine Arts at Central Saint Martins. During her studies, Indra was particularly interested in Cubism and in the works of Portuguese painter Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, whose abstract visual language, Indra notes, significantly shaped her “own unique journey to cubism.”

The geometric shapes and lines shooting across Indra’s canvases, described by her as “thought-systems”, have a pulsating energy: there’s a fluidity to them that conveys the essence, dynamism and elusiveness of emotional experiences. “Lines are faster than thoughts,” she enthuses, “so when working with them, I can reach other types of dimensions. I see abstraction as a shadow of figuration that taps into the subconscious mind.” Works like ‘Union of Opposites’, through symmetry and equilibrium of form and colour, celebrate such spiritual aspects of reality; expressing a state of harmony, exaltation and synchronicity. “This painting originates from the Platonian concept of ‘anima-mundi’, meaning that everything is interconnected, wired and infinite beyond the atom” says Moroder of her work. 

When looking at Indra’s paintings, there is an interesting paradox: while her works depict derelict landscapes or schematic figures imbued with muted colours, they still radiate harmony. “I like to think of empty spaces in my paintings as puddles; when it rains we follow a path, and encountering a puddle, we see a reflection of ourselves. Similarly, I see my paintings as mirrors reflecting images already embedded within the collective unconscious” notes Indra. Beyond offering introspection, these tranquil scenes (like ‘Four Rivers’), also embody a peaceful, utopian landscape that combat the “constant stimulus we experience through screens and social media.” Recalling her memories of serenity and nature, Indra offers a visual antidote to our fast paced and digitised lifestyle. 

Although her more figurative paintings lean towards abstraction, a strong sense of narrative animates her scenes and the protagonists within it. Pieces like ‘How Much Will You Be Hurting Me’ explore the power dynamics between individuals, while ‘Ajay’ captures the “soul of the person represented.” Ultimately, for Indra “instead of likeness, it is expressing the essence of the subject, and their interactions with the (version of) reality that surrounds them, that is at the core of painting.”

Previously, Indra’s works have been exhibited at the Lethaby Gallery, the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, Kunsthalle Tirol in Austria, and the The Koppel Project, amongst others. At the moment, Indra is continuing to explore narrative through painting, while developing a new series of abstract paintings made with her left hand, to “discover new and uncharted territories of the mind.”