Khoj Studios is bringing art and science together for a multidisciplinary show that will have works created during a month-long residency by artists from Germany, Poland, Russia and India.
Titled “The Undivided Mind 2016”, the two-day exhibition that begins on Friday will explore a crossover between art and science. Elements of photography, text, drawing, and sculpture will co-exist with biology, physics and chemistry while focusing on issues of environment, climate change and human evolution.
The exhibition includes works by Alexey Buldakov (Russia), Gagan Singh (India), Johanna Schmeer (Germany), Mohan Polamar & Vivek Muthuramalingam (India), Sonia Khurana (India) and Tyska Samborska (Poland).
Sitara Chowfla, curator at Khoj, said the theme of the 2016 edition of the event is “health”, with three sub-themes. Terrestrial health refers to that which is on or related to the earth.
This suggests an investigation into the physical health and structure of the body (both human and animal), environment, community and interrelations between these spheres.
Mental health focuses on psychological investigation of what constitutes health of the mind and raises questions about the “socially” defined state of well-being.
Finally, extraterrestrial health may refer to any object, being or idea beyond the planet earth. This sub-theme opens up a space where the relationship between earth and other planetary bodies can be studied.
The exhibit will feature works like a giant tub where you can float as if in space. Created by Mohan Polamar and Vivek Muthuramalingam and titled “Tub of Loss”, the installation is a giant tub filled with a solution of magnesium sulphate that allows a person to float, almost as easily as being in space.
A creation by Johanna Schmeer titled “Entangled Bodies” studies the impact of pollution on human body. While her drawings — showing wearable material that has been created using nanotechnology, kinetic energy and biology — explain how humans can protect themselves from pollution, she has also created a wearable sculpture for the nose.
“The sculpture is coated with a special paint that cleans the air. During my research, I discovered that among London, Beijing and Delhi, Delhi was the most polluted,” she added.
The exhibition will also feature an urban laboratory for birds to rest, and a four-armed extra-terrestrial character walking the streets of Khirkee as part of a photo project, among others.
The “Undivided Mind 2016” will be on at Khoj Studios, Khirkee Extension from April 15 to April 16, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
