Home / Arts and Entertainment / Broken Walls Bloom: Art Meets Ecology
Broken Walls Bloom: Art Meets Ecology
31 Oct
Summary
- Living sculpture uses reclaimed materials and plants.
- Installation explores ecological collapse and renewal.
- Work commissioned for an exhibition until December 22.
Artist Radhika Agarwala's living sculptural installation, "Where The Forest Begins Within," commissioned by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), challenges perceptions of decay and renewal. Created at Art Ichol in Maihar, Madhya Pradesh, the work utilizes reclaimed bricks, soil, stone debris, and cement as a foundation for moss, ferns, and various plant species. This installation, part of the "Inheritors of Earth" exhibition curated by Premjish Achari, is displayed at KNMA, New Delhi, until December 22, 2026.
Agarwala's artistic process was informed by observations in Kolkata's colonial ruins and the landscapes of Madhya Pradesh, where she noted how abandoned structures become habitats for plant life. For "Where The Forest Begins Within," she gathered discarded materials from abandoned sites and traditional kilns. The installation is designed as a dynamic, living environment, with natural elements like rain integral to its evolution, mirroring the resilience of life in unexpected places.
The artwork draws parallels between the persistence of moss in tiny cracks and human experiences of displacement and uncertainty, prompting contemplation on belonging and memory. By integrating reclaimed objects with living organisms, Agarwala highlights ecological histories and the profound connection between human actions and the natural world. The installation ultimately aims to foster a space where damaged landscapes can become sites of healing and regeneration.
