Art show flags climate change crisis

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, January 21

A unique group art show opened in the capital on Monday to draw public attention to the growing climate change crisis and inspire urgent change.

Curated by Mumbai-based art historian Arshiya Lokhandwala, the exhibition titled, “We are still alive: Strategies in Surviving the Anthropocene”, a collaboration between MASH Sculptural Space and India International Centre, features sculptures by seven artists whose works focus on the present climate change crisis.

Conceived as a public art project, the show features sculptures by Achia Anzi, Asim Waqif, Arun Kumar HG, Atul Bhalla, Priyanka Chowdhury, Ravi Agarwal, Sultana Zana and Vibha Galhotra.

Speaking about the works, curator Lokhandwala said, “Today we are in the midst of the most significant global crisis that determines our future. We have exacted a heavy toll on the natural world we inhabit through overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil fuels, deforestation, leading to glaciers melting, sea levels rising, species going extinct and severe weather events rising. This timely site specific exhibition in the sculpture garden of IIC is an invitation to Delhi artists who have experienced the poor air and water quality, congestion, pollution in the city, change in temperatures and water levels to address these issues as a public art project.”

Lokhandwala said the exhibition was a shout out to the people to mobilise themselves to bring required changes in this critical crisis moment while “We are still alive”.

The show features a range of works from installations to sculptures to aerial photographs to drive home the point of climate crisis and to drive change.

The show will remain open till February 2 and has been brought together by Shalini Passi of MASH Sculptural Space. Passi has amassed a formidable collection of the most coveted names of Indian contemporary art, including Bharti Kher, Anita Dube, Sheba Chhachi and Zarina Hashmi among others.

Passi is located in Delhi and sits on the advisory board of Khoj, a not for profit arts organisation and is a patron of Foundation of Indian Contemporary Art.