Sculpting Stories from Rubble and Memory

At the 17th India Art Fair, artist Girjesh Kumar Singh presented a powerful exhibition titled 'Haal Mukaam: Current Address.' Singh utilizes bricks salvaged from demolished structures as his primary artistic medium. These bricks, imbued with the history of former homes, serve as a metaphor for the impermanence of physical spaces and the transient nature of human life.

The exhibition featured life-size sculptures of figures in transit, each holding bags, symbolizing the emotional and physical baggage carried during migration and displacement. These figures, rendered in brick, evoked a deep sense of nostalgia and loss for previously inhabited spaces.

Singh's work explores themes of identity, migration, and displacement, drawing parallels to contemporary issues like the global migration crisis and devastation in Gaza. His art emphasizes that buildings derive their significance from the people who inhabit them, prompting viewers to contemplate the lives associated with the demolished structures.

Born in Semra, Uttar Pradesh, and now based in Vadodara, Singh's artistic journey has consistently focused on the human experience of movement and belonging. His exhibition at the India Art Fair resonated strongly with visitors, particularly in Delhi, a city that itself bears the remnants of historical migrations and partitions.