‘The Elemental You’: A group art exhibition

The Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) in Saket is hosting the exhibition The Elemental You, which will be open to the public from October 15 to January 9, 2025. The exhibition explores the intersection of the geological, the planetary, and the personal through the works of South Asian diaspora artists Simryn Gill, Neha Choksi, and Hajra Waheed. It offers an in-depth look at their long-term engagements with natural elements, particularly focusing on the concept of “Earth” as both a geological and cultural experience.

The exhibition is divided into three key thematic pathways, “thinking like a mountain”, “survival as revival”, and “clearing”. These themes address the artists’ varied explorations of environmental change and the deep connection between people and the earth. The works highlight the artists’ unique approaches to the natural world, using materials such as rocks, stones, sand, plants, and animals to comment on the world’s shifting landscapes. The exhibition features works that span decades, reflecting long-term commitments to specific materials and ideas.

“The exhibition provides a space for contemplation and reflection on the ongoing environmental crisis,” said Akansha Rastogi, Senior Curator at KNMA. “It invites visitors to connect with the works not just as spectators, but as participants in an ongoing dialogue with the natural world”.

One of the key highlights of the exhibition is “The Working Space”, which features two special projects by Vijai Maia Patchineelam and Ranjana Dave. Additionally, a rotating Artists’ Roundtable will take place, with five artists sharing their insights on grounding, immersion, and the transfer of intimate traces of objects.

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As visitors explore the space, they encounter works that range from the mundane to the extraordinary. Choksi’s pieces reflect on the earth’s geological history, while Gill’s documentation of Port Dickson, a port town in Malaysia, showcases the industrial transformation of the environment. Waheed’s works turn attention to Kashmir’s sky, exploring its fleeting yet ever-present influence.

The exhibition also includes a public program designed to deepen the experience, with field visits to geologists, nursery tours in Delhi, and performances. The public program also incorporates a film festival, workshops, and discussions on environmental concerns, archives, and the concept of “unwellness” as explored in Mimi Khuc’s book dear elia.

KNMA founder Kiran Nadar expressed her enthusiasm about the exhibition, noting, “We are excited to present The Elemental You, which focuses on environmental degradation and our relationship with the earth. It expands the museum’s collection, showcasing significant works by these renowned artists”.

The exhibition is free to visit, and the museum is open from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM, except on Mondays and public holidays.

When: Until January 9, 2025; 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM

Where: Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA) Saket, New Delhi