Art show that explores facets of memory in two cities
The exhibition which will be coming to Delhi explores how art affects memory and is affected by the collective memory
About 40 works of art depicting memory and its different facets were unveiled to an august audience in the City of Joy on April 28 at the Harrington Street Arts Centre. The exhibition which will be travelling to the capital shortly was inaugurated by renowned artist Chitravanu Majumdar and actor Raima Sen. The art exhibition was presented by Shrine Empire and curated by Anushka Rajendran. The inauguration witnessed luminaries of the city – also art collectors like – Sanjiv Goenka, Madhu Neotia, and Sumedha Saraogi. Anahita Taneja, Director, Shrine Empire was present on the occasion.
This exhibition is an exploration of how art affects and is affected by the collective, personal and historical memory. Memory has for long been an elusive area of study for neuroscience. The inadequacy of science in capturing an intimately human experience is highlighted by the efficacy with which art was able to delve into the subject. The first edition of Lapses, the exhibition, explores the ways in which various memories – collective, personal, political and historical – resounds every day. This exhibition consists of a series of artworks of 12 artists that lend memories of object-hood, saving them from the lapses in the collective and personal memory.
The art exhibition brought together landmark contemporary artworks to Kolkata by established artists, and emerging artists gaining international acknowledgement. Some of the artists who took part in the exhibition are Anoli Perera, Gautam Kansara, Kartik Sood, Neerja Kothari, Ranbir Kaleka, Samanta Batra Mehta, Paula Sengupta, Samit Das, Shilpa Gupta, Subrat Kumar Behera, Tayeba Begum Lipi.
Speaking on the occasion Anahita Taneja, Director, Shrine Empire said, “Shrine Empire returns to Kolkata after nine years,from where the gallery began its journey. We were keen to have a curated exhibition with exciting contemporary artworks from India and the diaspora as well as artworks that have been inspired by West Bengal. We have taken specific care to include artists who have connections with Kolkata including Samit Das, Paula Sengupta and Neerja Kothari and maintain conversation between their works and the other artists who are part of the show.” The theme of the exhibition asks questions on the nature of art, and its function in our every day life, with artists as chroniclers of our memories. “In fact Paula’s work deals with her mother’s memory, her struggle with cancer and about a year-long log of day to day events. It focuses on her mother’s memory”, explains Taneja.
Another artist, Kothari has to trace her steps back in memory as part of her rehab after a debilitating illness. “That is reflected in her work”, adds Taneja.