Ishan Khosla: The Politics of Type Design from the Global South

A visionary at the intersection of art, design and social change

About Ishan: Born in Fort Kochi, India in 1976, Ishan Khosla is a Dehradun-based visual artist, designer, educator, and researcher. With a unique blend of coding, digital technology, and traditional visual arts, Ishan crafts powerful narratives that challenge the status quo.

The Typecraft Initiative: Ishan's groundbreaking project, The Typecraft Initiative (Trust), launched in 2011-12, redefines design by creating typefaces inspired by tribal art and craft. More than just an artistic endeavor, Typecraft serves as a socio-political platform that amplifies the voices of religious minorities, tribes, subordinate castes, and women. Through this work, Ishan confronts issues of inequity, colonization, patriarchy, and power structures, while also breathing new life into traditional crafts for today’s audiences.

Exploring the contemporary Indian milieu: After spending over a decade in the United States, Ishan returned to India with a renewed focus on exploring the complexities of contemporary Indian society. His work uniquely fuses handmade craft with digital technology and design, creating thought-provoking juxtapositions that challenge our perceptions of culture and tradition.

Ishan at IOTA 2024: Currently visiting Australia, Ishan is one of the featured artists at the Indian Ocean Triennial Australia (IOTA 2024), showcasing the rich craft traditions of the Indian Ocean. At IOTA, he will present his work on The Typecraft Initiative in collaboration with the Baiga Tattoo Tribal Community, continuing his mission to elevate marginalized voices through design.

A global presence: With an MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts, NYC, and a BS in Computer Science from the University of Washington, Seattle, Ishan has made waves internationally. His work has been showcased at prestigious events such as the Indian Ocean Craft Triennial in Perth (IOTA 2021 and 2024), the Tel-Aviv Craft and Design Biennale, the London Design Festival, and many more. His presentations and exhibitions across the globe underscore his commitment to pushing the boundaries of art and design.

Join us in celebrating Ishan's inspiring journey: Hear him speak as he continues to innovate and inspire, blends tradition with technology, to create art that speaks to the heart of today’s most pressing social issues.

*This is a Hybrid event In-Person at RMIT University Building 24.1.1 and on-line on Teams. Please RSVP if you are attending in person or on-line.

Teams Link: https://bit.ly/3Tl78Zx | Meeting ID: 463 110 005 913 | Passcode: niKKf8