Mori Art Museum

Chalo! India (Let's go! India)

22 Nov 2008 - 15 Mar 2009

Bharti Kher
The Skin Speaks a Language Not Its Own, 2006
C-print
Bindis on fiberglass
167.6 x 152.4 x 457.2 cm
© Bartholomew / Netphotograph.com
CHALO! INDIA (LET'S GO! INDIA)
A New Era of Indian Art

Novenber 22, 2008 - March 15, 2009

The largest exhibition of Indian contemporary art ever to be held in Japan

“Chalo” is Hindi for "Let's go." With the words "Chalo! India" (Let's go! India), we invite you to discover an explosion of creativity and vitality in Indian contemporary art. "Chalo! India" will take you on a journey through more than 100 works by 27 artists and artist groups from all over India. Encompassing a broad range of media, including painting, sculpture, photography and installation, this exhibition examines the latest movements in Indian contemporary art.

Following independence from Britain in 1947, Indian artists began exploring new forms of artistic expressions—drawing inspiration and ideas from Western modernism, and India's own distinctive culture. Over the next 60 years, new types of work that powerfully embodied political and social critiques emerged. More recently, Indian artists have been making works that respond to urbanization and changing contemporary lifestyles—art that reflects the rapid economic development, and globalization that has taken hold since the 1990s. Today the lively Indian art scene is spreading its wings both at home and abroad, and has been attracting a great deal of international attention.

"Chalo! India" is a significant survey of new Indian art, including a sociological research project involving architects and intellectuals, and state of the art interactive media work—as befits an IT giant such as India. Most people see India in terms of its rich and influential history, its Gods and devotion, Bollywood movies, or its awakening as an economic giant. However, there is so much more to the complex and dynamic India of today. “Chalo! India” explores and celebrates the depth of this country; the contradictions of its society, the dreams and hopes of its people, and its energy and passion toward the future.

Participating Artist

A. Balasubramaniam
Sarnath Banerjee
Krishnaraj Chonat
Nikhil Chopra
Atul Dodiya
Shilpa Gupta
Subodh Gupta
Tushar Joag
Anant Joshi
Ranbir Kaleka
Jitish Kallat
Reena Saini Kallat
Bharti Kher
Prabhavathi Meppayil
N. S. Harsha
Pushpamala N.
Jagannath Panda
Justin Ponmany
Ashim Purkayastha
Raqs Media Collective
Gigi Scaria
Nataraj Sharma
Gulammohammed Sheikh
Kiran Subbaiah
Vivan Sundaram
Thukral & Tagra
Hema Upadhyay
 

Tags: Sarnath Banerjee, Krishnaraj Chonat, Nikhil Chopra, Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, Subodh Gupta, NS Harsha, N.S. Harsha, Tushar Joag, Anant Joshi, Ranbir Kaleka, Reena Saini Kallat, Jitish Kallat, Bharti Kher, Prabhavathi Meppayil, Pushpamala N, Pushpamala N., N.s.harsha, Jagannath Panda, Justin Ponmany, Raqs Media Collective, Gigi Scaria, Vivan Sundaram, Thukral & Tagra, Hema Upadhyay