Much of India’s historic representation comes from stories of partition, colonialism and the Mughal Empire. In terms of culture; it’s a colourful celebration of food, fashion and film. The in-between is rarely explored.
In this world-first exhibition, we’re invited to explore India’s complex political story from three important decades, through the lens of sculpture, paintings, photography, installation and film.
The years in focus mark the beginning and end of two pivotal moments in India’s history – the declaration of the State of Emergency by Indira Gandhi in 1975 and the Pokhran Nuclear Tests in 1998. The history is brought to life through vibrant artworks capturing people’s lives during times of tragedy, social change and struggle.
A total of 150 works of art are spread across two floors of the Barbican Art Gallery, some of which are mounted stylishly onto stacked perforated bricks. Though without wall mounted captions explaining the work, the viewer would be lost without the small booklet provided.
In Sheba Chhachhi’s photo series, the sturdy faces of seven women activists who fought against dowry-related violence stare back. They are draped in sarees; their eyes portraying the pain from lost daughters. In Nilima Sheikh’s painting series, we see the true story of a girl who was married off as a child and abused in her in-law’s house is before being murdered.
Meanwhile Indian photojournalist Pablo Bartholomew documents the 20 years following the tragic aftermath of the 1984 toxic gas leak in Bhopal. Images of hazardous wasteland, corpses and dead livestock show the bleak reality of what is recognised as the world's worst industrial disaster.
Paintings which look soft and inviting quickly unravel before the viewer’s eyes. A striking orange piece by Gulammohammed Sheikh shows animals inhabiting abandoned buildings during the Emergency era in which Hindi-Muslim riots broke out. The absence of humans point to the severity of the aftermath.
Despite these documentations of misplacement and death, it’s the images of personal domestic moments which offer interesting insight. Bartholomew’s candid stills of young Indians smoking at a party in New Delhi and Sunil Gupta’s documentation of the gay scene in New Delhi give a grasp of people's attitude to living through uncertain times.
With so many important in-depth real-life stories, they cry out for more information. But the art is brought together nicely to portray a vivid image of what it was like to be an Indian living in such times and offers a new perspective on how politics has affected generations of Indians. The message isn’t in your face, but it’s loud. These less talked about decades deserve attention.
Barbican Art Gallery, from October 5 2024 – 5 January 2025
