Growing up between Uganda, India, and the Netherlands, Manan Gadhia (23) became familiar with the feeling of moving between worlds. Born into an Indian family, they spent the first fifteen years of their life in Uganda before moving to India for five years and eventually settling in Rotterdam. That multicultural journey now sits at the heart of their graduation project.
"It's quite personal," they say. "A lot of it comes from questions around fitting in, conforming, queerness, and trying to understand how to relate to people. Why do we become who we are? Why do we sometimes feel like we have to become something else?"
Those questions have led them to create a graduation project that explores the relationship between people's internal and external selves. Through installation, sculpture, and participation, they want visitorsto reflect on their own identities and the ways they present themselves to the world. "My goal is for people to question their identity in some way," they explain. "To engage in a moment of self-inquiry."
Building an External Self
At the center of Manan's current project is the idea of an exoskeleton: a structure that people can physically step into and customize. "I want to create a system that externalizes what's happening inside," Manan says. "Something that allows people to become something else, or maybe reveal something that's already there."
The project is still evolving, but the concept revolves around creating wearable structures and accessories that act as extensions of the body. Rather than clothing as a simple form of self-expression, Mananimagines objects that make identity visible in a more direct and physical way. "Clothes already communicate something about who we are," they say. "I'm interested in pushing that idea further. What happensif you can literally build an external version of yourself?"
The installation will be interactive, inviting visitors to participate rather than simply observe. For Manan, the audience is an essential part of the work. "It takes two to make an artwork," they say. "You need theartist, but you also need the audience. I want people to physically experience the work and feel like they're part of it."
From Wooden Bags to Body Extensions
The project did not begin with exoskeletons. Initially, Manan wanted to explore his existing visual language through functional objects. Known for working with scrap wood, Manan started experimenting withthe idea of creating personalized wooden bags."I wanted to see if I could make something functional instead of purely sculptural," they explain.
As the project developed, however, the scale expanded. "It shifted from accessories to the whole body," they say. "Instead of asking how an object can express someone, I started asking how an entirestructure could do that." That evolution mirrors much of his creative process: beginning with a material or visual fascination and gradually uncovering the larger questions underneath. "The project keepsgrowing and changing," Manan says. "Sometimes from small to big, and maybe it will become small again."
Looking for Identity in Unlikely Places
Much of Manan's research draws from a wide range of influences. Alongside philosophical texts about identity, belonging, and conformity, Manan spends time studying fashion, sports equipment, cartoons, comedy, and transformation narratives. "I'm a very visual person," they say. "I look at fashion shows because they're exploring absurd ideas through garments. I look at cartoons because they're playful andtransformative. Even sports equipment interests me because it's about the relationship between an idea and the physical tools needed to perform it." Across all these references, a common theme emerges:how external objects shape our experience of ourselves.
The challenge has been narrowing everything down. "I've been stuck in the 'a lot'," Manan laughs. "There's so much information and so many possibilities. It feels necessary, but it can also becomeoverwhelming." For now, much of their time is spent sorting through those ideas and determining which threads truly belong in the final work. "It's about figuring out what's necessary and what isn't," they say. "And finding ways to connect all those loose threads."
Learning to Take Up Space
The graduation project also builds on themes that have appeared throughout Manan's studies. Over the years, Manan has increasingly gravitated toward installations, sculptures, and spatial experiences thatphysically occupy a room. One recent example was an exhibition at Red Floor Gallery, where they created furniture from scrap wood and transformed the space into an interactive environment. "I had a lot of fun with it," they say. "I like making things that take up space."
That idea of taking up space feels significant. "Why be loud?" Manan asks. "Because you can. Because you have the space." The graduation show, in many ways, represents the largest platform they have had so far. "It feels important," they say. "It feels like this big moment. I want to use that platform and do something special."
Beyond Illustration
Although Manan is graduating from the Illustration department, Their practice increasingly stretches beyond traditional definitions of the discipline. "Illustration isn't illustration," they say with a smile. Whatcontinues to connect their work to the field is not a specific medium, but the act of visualizing ideas. "I still relate to illustration because it's about storytelling and visualization," they explain. "The question is: what are all the different ways I can tell a story?"
Over the years, the academy encouraged them to keep asking exactly that question. "They really force you to keep searching," Manan says. "To keep exploring the boundaries." That openness has allowed themto move between drawing, sculpture, installation, furniture, and participation without feeling tied to a single discipline.
Looking Ahead
As graduation approaches, Manan finds himself reflecting on both the past and the future. "It feels nostalgic," they say. "Maybe because it feels like the last time I'll be a student." At the same time, there is uncertainty. Alongside finishing his graduation project, Manan is also thinking about what comes next. "I still feel young," they say. "I'm constantly asking myself: what's right? What's wrong? What should I do next?"
Several paths appeal to them. They enjoy teaching and helping others develop creative ideas. Manan loves working with theirh ands and building physical objects. They could imagine working in a woodshop. But ultimately, there is one ambition that keeps returning. "My goal is to become an autonomous artist," they say. "To have the freedom to keep exploring, researching, and making."
