DEMOCRACY - THE ENDANGERED BIRD

Event type: 
Event
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When: 
28 Sep 2023

Welcome to an informal evening with presentations at IASPIS Konstnärsnämnden 5.30-7 pm with our current residency guests Saviya Lopes, Yogesh Barve and Arijit Bhattacharyya!

"Confluence of Power: Exploring the Interplay of Capitalism and Nationalism in Shaping Contemporary Art in India" is a lecture with Arijit Bhattacharyya. In a remarkable convergence, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' initiative marked their presence within a month in Mumbai. Both entities, embodying wealth and authority, exhibited an unprecedented interest in contemporary art. This intriguing dynamic underscores the fusion of Capitalism and Nationalism in India. This lecture by Bhattacharyya explores how these forces intersect and reshape the landscape of artistic freedom, ushering in new dimensions of power and influence.

"Why we do what we do" - an artist presentation with Saviya Lopes and Yogesh Barve. Clark House Initiative (Mumbai, IN) was a curatorial collective and artist union concerned with ideas of freedom. Until its closing in 2022, the space nurtured a number of Indian and international artists. Lopes and Barve were participating artists who later became the artistic directors. In this short talk, they will speak on being part of a collective, cultivating care and creating a platform for visibility as well as delve into their respective artistic practices. These practices arise from spending time creating visuals and engaging in conversations that are part of the social and cultural experiences that they inhabit.

This presentation is part of the larger ambulating public programme DEMOCRACY - THE ENDANGERED BIRD initiated by Hillside Projects and presented at IASPIS, Zita and Index and in collaboration with The Nordic Art Association.

This programme is supported by The Swedish Arts Council and Nordic Culture Fund.

Graphic design: Oskar Laurin and William J Andersson