What is the main theme of artists at the 17th India Art Fair?

Artists at the 17th India Art Fair are moving away from romanticized nature to highlight the stressed realities of today, critically engaging with ecological and economic issues.

How are artists like Dumiduni Illangasinghe challenging traditional views of materials?

Dumiduni Illangasinghe's installation 'Soft Armours' transforms broken glass bangles, traditionally seen as unlucky, into delicate sculptures entwined with mycelial forms, showing beauty and new life from discarded materials.

What approach do artists like Raki Nikahetiya take towards climate change?

Raki Nikahetiya embodies 'climate optimism' with his 'Forest II' installation, a pocket forest built from construction waste, creating a regenerative space that sequesters carbon and offers a habitat, demonstrating ways to overcome climate anxiety.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Art Tackles Nature's Stress, Not Romance

Art Tackles Nature's Stress, Not Romance

30 Jan

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Summary

Artists shift from nature's romance to stressed realities.
Fungal networks and broken bangles inspire new art forms.
Artworks critically engage with agriculture and economies.

Art Tackles Nature's Stress, Not Romance

The 17th India Art Fair showcases artists who are eschewing romanticized portrayals of nature for a critical engagement with contemporary environmental and economic stresses. This shift is exemplified by Dumiduni Illangasinghe's "Soft Armours," an installation using broken glass bangles and mycelial forms to explore impermanence and resilience.

This philosophical engagement with ecological systems marks a broader trend at the fair. Director Jaya Asokan notes artists' refusal to return to idealized nature, instead critically addressing stressed systems like agriculture, fungal networks, and extractive economies through innovative material experimentation. These practices reflect the complexities and conflicts of the current era.

Kulpreet Singh's "Extinction Archival" uses stubble ash and pesticide on rice paper to depict endangered species, commenting on loss and pollution. Sidhant Kumar challenges pastoral idealizations, highlighting the struggles of migrant farmers using contaminated water due to a lack of resources and capitalistic pressures.