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Emerging Artists Transform Materials into Meaning
31 Oct
Summary
- Ten artists showcase diverse material practices, from clay to reclaimed rubber.
- Exhibition explores material's connection to memory, body, and environment.
- Annual IMAGINARIUM supports young artists with awards and exposure.
Emami Art presents 'Insubordinate Matter,' the sixth edition of its IMAGINARIUM open-call exhibition, spotlighting ten emerging artists. Running until December 26, the exhibition showcases artists working with materials such as clay, glass, textiles, natural dyes, wood, and reclaimed rubber. These artists explore the intrinsic connection between material, memory, the body, and the natural environment.
Launched in 2020, IMAGINARIUM aims to support young visual artists through awards, exhibitions, and mentorship. This year's call for portfolios saw over 1,200 submissions, reviewed by a distinguished jury. Bhagyashri Dange, Sonu Pujar, and Subhash Deka received the top three awards, supported by the Emami Foundation and Kolkata Centre for Creativity.
The exhibition emphasizes that materials are not just mediums but repositories of memory and meaning. The artworks address inherited histories of the body and the pressures on the natural world. Through tactile forms, artists investigate identity, gender, ecology, labor, and collective memory, treating their chosen substances as living entities.
Participating artists employ varied approaches. Dange examines the body as a site of memory and conditioning through drawing and painting. Pujar uses textiles and domestic materials to explore gendered labor and personal histories. Deka's sculptures reflect the relationship between people and their surroundings, drawing on natural rhythms. Other artists like Srijita Raha (textiles, natural dyes) and Annanya Dhanda (domestic objects) also contribute unique perspectives.
Richa Agarwal, founder-director of Emami Art, highlighted the initiative's goal to bridge the gap between artistic talent and opportunity for young practitioners. The program prioritizes providing essential support and standing to emerging artists during their most vulnerable career stages.
