The lockdown caused by COVID-19 has been a time of introspection and adaptation for art institutions around the world. Vadodara-based Gallery Ark was set to open a group show titled ‘A Voyage of Seemingly Propulsive Speed and an Apparent Absolute Stillness’ with three emerging artists. On the eve of the opening, the nation-wide lockdown came into force.
The gallery responded with a carefully planned digital iteration of the exhibition. The multimedia show, with its bold curation and strong thematic relevance to contemporary issues, has been reimagined with an array of options developed by Gallery Ark, designed to create an optimum art viewing experience. ‘A Voyage…’ is now live on the gallery’s online viewing room and will soon be available in an augmented 3D model that will allow viewers a glimpse into the exhibition design, creating a close approximation of an in-person experience.
Whilst the galley space is now open, strictly upon appointment, the digital exhibition marks Gallery Ark’s move towards a multi-channel approach to the gallery programme.
The multidisciplinary show brings together works of art by artists Arshad Hakim, Moonis Ahmad Shah and Sarasija Subramanian. The genesis of this intriguingly titled exhibition began as a conversation between the three artists and the curator of the exhibition, Aaiushi Beniwal. The conversations about the readings around their individual practices uncovered a common thread in the form of three key words – myth, suspension, and violence. These became touchpoints for the theme of this group show, that brings together politics of perception and identity, through the experimental aesthetics of the artists’ recent body of work. The show carries a varied range of mediums including etching, drawings, zinc plates, videos, digital prints and LED strips.
Elaborating on the exhibition’s digital launch, Gallery Ark’s director Nupur Dalmia said, “It’s fitting that our move towards integrating digital exhibitions in our offering coincided with this show. This group of young artists are pushing the boundaries with their experimentation with mediums and a deep thinking around an alternate future. The process of adaptation during times like these needs to be a collaborative one and the artists supported us to help bring the digital iteration of the show to life. Whilst the in-person experience of viewing art will always remain unparalleled, we are happy to be able to present a strong digital experience of the exhibition, which we hope will reach a wider audience.”
The exhibition is available on the gallery’s online viewing room.
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