The Imaginary Institution of India at the Barbican features powerful, thought-provoking art from 1975-1998, a period marked by existential crisis and political upheaval in India. The exhibition showcases diverse works that touch on themes such as social democracy, non-violence, and the impact of events like the Bhopal disaster. Artists like Rameshwar Broota, MF Husain, and Gieve Patel capture the horror of the era through haunting paintings of bureaucracy, violence, and death.
Amidst the darkness, there are moments of beauty and love. Artists like Nilima Sheikh and Bhupen Khakar depict everyday magic, intimacy, and enduring love in their work. The exhibition also explores India’s transforming cities, challenges to class structures, women’s rights, gay rights, and engagement with Indigenous cultures.
The show pays tribute to artists who were engaged in political protest, street theatre, and cultural documentation, constantly imagining what India could be. Jagdish Swaminathan’s influence is highlighted, as he championed folk, tribal, and urban art at the Bharat Bhavan arts complex in Bhopal.
The exhibition concludes with a message of hope and optimism, as Bhupen Khakar’s Grey Blanket (1998) portrays the enduring love between two men in Benares. Despite the challenges and turmoil of the era, the exhibition showcases the resilience and creativity of Indian artists in responding to their nation’s complex history. The Imaginary Institution of India offers a profound and immersive exploration of a crucial period in India’s recent past through the eyes of its artists.
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