Each piece can be seen as a totem and invites the viewer to stitch together their own narrative, drawing on collective memories and signifiers to generate meanings. Rithika says, “The works in this show can be seen as a collection of modern artefacts that draw on myths, history and rituals.
While Rithika has sought inspiration from myths, history and rituals, Samanta turned to anatomy and Savia delved into her fascination for ceramics and sculpture to explore the themes.
(From L-R) Daughters of the sky Rithika Merchant The Interior World ARTISTS’ SPEAK As I delved deeper, I found that the usage of ink and iconography was common to all three artists’ practices.” Similarly, the repurposing of material by Savia, through everyday objects and creating sculptures of and from them, and Samanta, who re-contextualises 18th-19th-century antiquarian books, text and photographs in her practice, linked both these artists very strongly for me. She adds, “My primary thoughts were about the massive geographical movement of Rithika and Samanta, who have travelled extensively for their work, study and building their personal life, and how that has impacted their practice. Creating spaces that allow for that contemplation was the motivating factor in curating this show.” What prompted her to approach Rithika, Samanta and Savia, was the fact that all three of them dabble with different mediums. It led to my curiosity about exploring the histories of ideas that permeate across time and space, and nullify barriers, like death and life, and the feeling of home and belonging. She says, “When we were building historical timelines, and studying ancient burial practices, a student in my class asked me about the History and Future of Death. Shaleen, who has been associated with art for several years mainly as a scholar and a teacher, got the concept while she was teaching her students last year. Each of them uses different mediums such as drawings, paintings in watercolour and ink, assemblage and collages, ceramic sculptures, found objects and digital prints to explore the universal truths of life as well as death while deciphering the meaning of distance and belonging.
Curated by Shaleen Wadhwana, it features the works of artists Rithika Merchant, Samanta Batra Mehta and Savia Mahajan.
These famous words by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu in a way encapsulate what’s in store for viewers when they visit Osmosis, an art exhibition which is currently underway at Tarq, an art gallery located in Colaba, Mumbai. Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides.
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