Indian Reena Kallat first solo at Nature Morte in 6 years – picture feast

INDIAN ARTIST SOLO EXHIBITION

Six years since her last solo at the space, exhibition “Labyrinth of Absences” represents the return of Delhi-born Reena Saini Kallat to New Delhi gallery Nature Morte. A new set of paintings depicting monument sites in the city are a highlight of the show.

Click here to for a further information on the Reena Kallat and the exhibition, “Labyrinth of Absences”.

Reena Kallat, 'Falling Fables - 2', 2010, acrylic on canvas, 112 x 198 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Falling Fables - 3', 2010, acrylic on canvas, 112 x 198 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Among the works in the exhibition will be a set of new paintings that depict monument sites in Delhi. The surface of the paintings are marked with addresses of monuments listed as protected sites under the Archeological Survey of India, that have either disappeared or have been declared lost, swallowed up by the rapidly expanding urban fabric.

-”Labyrinth of Absences” press release

Reena Kallat, 'Your Mileage May Vary - 4', 2009, acrylic paint, archival inks on handmade paper, 94 x 137 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

The works on paper are constructed from the names of people who have been denied visas on the basis of class, nationality or religion.

-”Labyrinth of Absences” press release

Reena Kallat, 'Synonym (man)', 2008-2009, painted rubber stamps on acrylic, 183 x 122 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Untitled', 2011, acrylic paint, rubber stamps, FRP, 80 x 204 x 80 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

In most cases, her images are fractured and deconstructed, creating maze-like maps – or as in the case of ‘Synonym’, a series of portraits crafted as mosaics of rubber stamps, holding the names of people who are officially registered as missing – appear pixelated and fragmented.

-”Labyrinth of Absences” press release

Reena Kallat, 'Crease, Crevice, Contour,' 2008, pigment print on Hahnemuhle Museum etching archival paper, 102 x 127 cm each (set of 10 prints). Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Crease, Crevice (detail)'. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Crease, Crevice, Contour (detail)'. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Other works in the show include ‘Crease, Crevice, Contour’, a set of ten large-scale photographs tracing the fluctuating Line Of Control between India and Pakistan from October 1947 to December 1948.

-”Labyrinth of Absences” press release

Reena Kallat, 'Silt of Seasons - 1', 2008, single channel video projection on sand, duration - 59m:30s, dimensions variable, edition 5 + AP. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Preface', 2010, wooden bookstand, handmade paper book, two-channel video projection, duration - 10m:6s (loop), 71 x 190 x 142 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Two video works will also be exhibited: ‘Silt of Seasons-I’, projects the names of people who have signed the peace petition in 2004. The names are projected on to sand and are gradually blown away, suggestive of the vulnerability of the peace process itself. In ‘Preface’, the artist projects the text of the Preamble to the Constitution of India translated into Braille on to the surface of a large, opened book.

-”Labyrinth of Absences” press release

Reena Kallat, 'Colour, Curtain (detail)'. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Colour, Curtain (between shores and the sea) (detail)'. Image courtesy Nature Morte.

Reena Kallat, 'Colour, Curtain (between shores and the sea)', 2009, acrylic paint, rubber stamps, metal single stand, height of pole: 104 cm. Image courtesy Nature Morte.