Convergence, a collection of drawings, mixed media works & sculptures by Shanthamani Muddaiah, Shivani Aggarwal and Minal Damani, curated by Nalini S Malaviya starts July 24, 2020
The hiatus, therefore, compounded by disquiet and turmoil, has compelled a deeper introspection of the human-nature coexistence and equilibrium, and of environmental, socio-economic and psychological sustainability issues, under transient and perpetual stress.
Amidst this, artists and art projects have pivoted to realign core practices to adopt meaningful human and community centric approaches. Modalities of engagement with the audience have also undergone perceptible repositioning with near total shift to digital platforms, and a predominance of artists collectives and community based projects.
This curatorial endeavor embraces a collaborative model, an art and media collective, centered on the three artists’ core practices to relocate social and ecological realities on a democratic forum. The artworks and the online digital site, act as a resource, to articulate and respond to shifts in contemporary socio-cultural conditions. Art Scene India, a 14 year old blog, a digital publishing site for art information, in response to collective concerns and in view of the pandemic situation, now accommodates a conceptual and aesthetic shift to incorporate curatorial expression as part of its vision.
The democratic approach builds upon the artists’ practice that is deeply informed by environment and gender sensitivities, and social, political and geographical concerns – arenas that assume great criticality in the contemporary context. Shanthamani Muddaiah, Shivani Aggarwal and Minal Damani locate and realign their preoccupations, and present their recent works, much of which has been produced during the pandemic and is thus layered with current apprehensions, as a subtext to the primary narrative.
Shanthamani views the world around her through a prismatic lens, questioning issues that interplay between the individual and the society, the self and the planet. Her strong concerns about urbanization and its impact on ecology are reflected in her drawings and sculptural installations. Loss of agricultural land, and livelihoods, migration, commodification, and exploitation of human and natural resources, and capitalism as the dominant culture are some of the issues that she analyses and expresses through her large scale depictions. For this exhibition, in view of the online site for display, small format pre-existing sculptures are presented, which paraphrase fresh import in light of current contexts.
Minal’s works emanate from a deep autobiographical space, reflecting upon the self, in conjunction with the external world, charting responses, which have an intense personal connect. Through a rigorous mapping device to trace diagrams and graphs of events in real-time and space, the intricate patterns that are generated, appear as macroscopic capsules of land, memories and episodes. Her current series acts as a witness to these times, documenting the volatility of the financial markets as an indication of the prevailing emotional turmoil. The fluctuations allude to hopes and dreams, fears and apprehensions, where the range of emotions reflect life during the pandemic experience.
The exhibition functions as a convergence of material, site and situation to define the contemporaneous of witnessing, experiencing and living through the ongoing pandemic.
Shanthamani Muddaiah
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Title: Temptation Medium: Graphite with Charcoal on Paper Year: 2020 Edition: Artist’s Proof Note: One edition will be larger in size Size: Big Apple: 2.5 x 2.5 X 2.5 inches Small Apple: 0.75 x 1.72 x 1.5 inches Pedestal: 8.5 x 4 x 1 inch Artist: Shanthamani Muddaiah |
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Shivani Aggarwal
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Title: Trap 2 Medium: Acrylics and stitching thread on handmade paper Year: 2020 Size: 7.5 x 11 inches each, set of 6 Artist: Shivani Aggarwal |
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| Title: Stitch Forms (Drawings) Medium: Thread stitching on paper Year: 2020 Size: 4 x 6 inches each, set of 5 works Artist: Shivani Aggarwal |
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| Title: Trap Medium: Acrylics and copper crocheted wire on paper Year: 2020 Size: 12 x 8 inches each, set of 10 works Artist: Shivani Aggarwal |
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Title: Untitled Medium: Photography, acrylics and stitching on archival paper Year: 2020 Size: 12 x 12 inches each, set of 4 works Artist: Shivani Aggarwal |
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| Title: Dilemma Medium: Acrylics and copper wire on paper Year: 2020 Size: 3 x 5 ft wall mounted Artist: Shivani Aggarwal |
Minal Damani
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Title: Rise and Fall 1 Year: 2020 Medium: Archival pen on paper Size: 12” x 15.5” Artist: Minal Damani |
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Title: Rise and Fall 2 Year: 2020 Medium: Archival pen on paper Size: 12” x 15.5” Artist: Minal Damani |
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Title: Rise and Fall 3 Year: 2020 Medium: Archival pen on paper Size: 12” x 15.5” Artist: Minal Damani |
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Title: Rise and Fall 4 Year: 2020 Medium: Archival pen on paper Size: 12” x 15.5” Artist: Minal Damani |
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Title: Rise and Fall 5 Year: 2020 Medium: Archival pen on paper Size: 12” x 15.5” Artist: Minal Damani |
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