A current group exhibition at Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg focuses on the work of women artists from India. On display until 7 October, Facing India features work by Vibha Galhotra, Bharti Kher, Prajakta Potnis, Reena Saini Kallat, Mithu Sen, and Tejal Shah.

Together, the works in Facing India pose questions about the social definitions, roles, rituals, politics and responsibilities of women in India today, examining the visual, textural, vocal and physical languages they use to negotiate and to survive. These negotiations take place in the context of rapid urban development, which widens the gap between urban and rural communities and further complicates an already intricate web of inter-relating cultures, religions, castes and philosophies. The identity of cities and towns is being transformed, with profound implications for residents.

The challenges faced by women in India resonate worldwide. The works on display in Facing India articulate the monumental challenge of defining one’s personal, gender and national identity at the same time, and examine in particular the definition of identity from a female perspective. They explore, among other things, the act of boundary-making and unmaking, the problem of binary thinking, the kitchen as conflict zone, the social significance of clothing and jewellery, and humans’ relationship to the anthropocene. The exhibition was developed through an ongoing dialogue between the six artists. Each artist has her own exhibition space, but traces of this dialogue can be seen when moving through the rooms. At the centre of the exhibition is an open forum space which allows the visitor to see into all six spaces simultaneously.                                         

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Facing India, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Hollerplatz 1, 38440 Wolfsburg, Germany