Us

Suraj Barthy Selvabarathy (b. 1992, Chennai, India) is a multimedia artist and creative technologist based in Brooklyn, New York. His artistic practice explores the temporal imprints of human existence, focusing on the question: "What are the traces people leave across time?" Hailing from a lineage of silk saree designers, he developed a deep appreciation for heritage and the profound sense of community around traditional artefacts. This background shapes his work, which seeks to understand how people connect and build legacies over time. Suraj sees people as threads connecting to each other, picking up where the ones before them left off, and leaving something for those who follow. This belief fuels his interest in interactions, reactions, and reflections. He advocates for technology to enhance human agency rather than replace it, resonating deeply in his art. Currently a Post-Doctoral Research Resident at New York University, Suraj's research focuses on time, connectedness, and technology. Using mediums such as video, textiles, physical computing, and code, he creates time-based participatory experiences that invite participants to navigate the intricacies of existence and form deeper connections with the world. As an Adjunct Arts Professor at NYU Tisch's Interactive Telecommunications Program & Interactive Media Arts, Suraj guides students through habit formation, design, and interactive art. His 8-year (3032 days and counting) Everyday Art Project has instilled in him a deep appreciation for practice and finding beauty in life's small moments. Suraj's work has been showcased at Maker Faire, Harvestworks Governor's Island, NYC Resistor, NYU, and DEMO Festival in the Netherlands. Through his narrative, Suraj invites us on a journey, weaving tradition with modernity, inspiring us to explore the world with newfound sensitivity and understanding.