JOIN USNow, this will be something interesting for all art lovers in the City, as Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) is showcasing two exhibitions featuring a retrospective (1964 – 2014) of Nalini Malani’s –‘You Can’t Keep Acid in a Paper Bag’, along with ‘Is it what you think? – a group exhibition showcasing works of 17 artists.
The highlight of the exhibition is Nalini Malani’s retrospective ‘You can’t keep acid in a paper bag’, which is happening for the first time in India. Her retrospective brings home some of her installations and international projects that have never been shown before in India.
Although Nalini uses modern representational techniques such as installations, her art conveys warmth, because of the strong influence of traditional folk arts such as glass painting, shadow play, kaleidoscope lantern and Kalighat paintings with divine images. Having chosen difficult themes of the contemporary world, she has created ambitious artworks and applied innovative means of expression, but at the same time has maintained her roots in Indian tradition.
Talking about the exhibition, Kiran Nadar, chairperson of KNMA said, “The objective of ‘You Can’t Keep Acid in a Paper Bag’ and ‘Is it what you think’, is to showcase the diversity of two entirely different collections – yet thematically linked and bound by issues that have been shaped and affected by contemporary Indian history. Their works and themes touches upon issues of oppression, violence, historical identity and culture in diverse formats and modes of representation.”
In ‘Is it what you think?’ artists engage multiple histories and mythologies. Some of the artists taking part in the exhibition are Anita Dube, Vivan Sundaram, Rumanna, Gulam Sheikh, Atul, Amar Kanwar, Rimzon, Idris Khan, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Bhupen, Arpita, Surendran Nair, Krishna Kumar, Shilpa Gupta.
Be it Amar Kanwar’s ‘Lightning Testimonies’ that brings forth the unheard voices against discrimination, repression and rape or Vivan Sundaram’s ‘Memorial’ that symbolically marks Babri Masjid demolition as a moment of change in the politics of the nation. Vivan’s ‘Memorial’ takes us through the history with his photographs as well as sculptures.
The chosen works of ‘Is it What You Think?’ reflects upon the immediate and the impending political and social crisis through acts of resistance, and at another level, become ways of recuperation and healing.
The exhibition is on till November 30.