Making Space

Celebrating 10 years of Space 118

Curated by Saloni Doshi

Established in 2009, Space 118 has been an incubation center for ideas, innovation, and experimentation with art for over 300 artists through its short-term residencies and grants. With the successful completion of a decade, Space 118 collaborated with Sakshi Art Gallery featuring works of 33 selected artists under the titled umbrella “Making Space”. This show previewed at a new Space of Sakshi Art Gallery in Colaba, Mumbai.

“Making Space is for artists to reinterpret their studio term in their own way. The usage of a studio is a personal and intimate experience for artists – acting as a playground, laboratory or even sanctum, and their work is displayed on the ‘Open Studio Day’ at the culmination of their stay at Space118..... It is the very essence of what a studio term brings to the mental framework of artists and the experimentation of the same, that I aim to bring out.”

- Saloni Doshi

Director of Space 118

(From Left to Right)

#50 , #60, 2019 © Parul Gupta

Blue Print : Proposed Site I, 2019 © Pratap Morey

(Top) Avataran © Mrugen Rathod

Sakshi Salon:

A salon style of gallery display has been adopted for this group show. All works are placed stylistically complimenting and juxtaposing each other while respecting each artist’s space and diversity in material. This show represents diversity not only geographically but also adaptability towards materiality and it’s form.

A unique crop of 33 artists’ artworks have been displayed in this show.

Aaiushi Beniwal, Al- Qawi Tazal Nanavati, Ankush Safaya , Arvind Sundar, Baptish Coelho, Chinmay Patel, Dheer Kaku , Farah Mulla, Gauri Gill , Juan Requena, Mansi Bhatt, Maripelly Praveen Goud, Meenakshi Nihalani, Midhun Gopi, Mrugen Rathod, Mustafa Khanbhai, Nandita Kumar, Neha Choksi, Parag Tandel, Parul Gupta, Pratap Morey, Radhika Wader, Raymonde April, Remen Chopra, Richi Bhatia, Sarasija Subramanian, Schon Mendes, Sharmistha Ray, Shivanjani Ray, Tanya Goel, Tarini Sethi, Tejal Shah & Viraj Mithani.

This blog will run you through few of the artworks among these very talented artists.

Avataran, 2019 © Mrugen Rathod

• Mrugen Rathod (Vadodara, Gujarat)

The artist’s installation reflects on various natural as well as external factors that affect River Sabarmati across the artist's life span. The installation titled “Avataran” provides a visual representation taking the viewers from the seasonal changes on the river to the effect of developmental projects on River Sabarmati.

(From Left to Right)

वणाा्ंध (COLOUR-BLIND) Series, 2018 © Parag Tandel

Construction, 2019 © Chinmoyi Patel

• Parag Tandel (Thane ,Mumbai)

Descending from the changing culture of the Koli community of Mumbai, adopted over time into the megalopolis of Mumbai, Parag’s works are inspired from ‘nimbu- mirchi’ (lemon – chilies) evil eye considered as a symbol to ward of misfortune and ill will in the Indian subcontinent. This hybrid iconography eptomizes the ideologies and cultural beliefs with in India.

• Sarasija Subramanian (Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)

And then the Lotus Eaters came, 2018 © Sarasija Subramanian

Sarasija’s artworks, appertain to today’s cultural and political implications. Her second set of works titled as “And then the Lotus Eaters came” is inspired from an excerpt from Homer’s Odyssey- which is apportioned and mapped through speculations- looking at our relationships with the unknown either as an object of desire or as an escape.

(From Left to Right)

Welcome to Ethopia seies, 2018 © Tahini Sethi

Untitled, 2015 © Jaun Requena

#59 #60, 2019 © Parul Gupta

• Tarini Sethi (New Delhi, India)

Tarini’s artworks hold ‘themes of human intimacy and try to break the taboo of body-consciousness and sexuality. Her work constantly revolves around the idea of “Utopias” and a world where we can live freely and equally, breaking through the shackles of biased opinions. She draws inspiration from folk tales, architecture of known cities, and stories of royal lineage with a modern- political twist. She makes both drawings and metal shadow installations that are overall surreal in nature with hints of both mythology and humor.

• Juan Requena (Caracas, Venezuela)

Juan experiments across multiple media to narrate situations related to racial discrimination and our reaction in the existing environment. For his current series, the artist has adopted raw silk embroideries highlighting his intimate sexual fantasies and momentary vibes revolving around his life.

( From Left to Right )

Mixed tales of Folklore Series, 2019 © Viraj Mithani

Spaces between absence and presence, 2013 © Midhun Gopi

Wordless Wonders, 2014 © Remen Chopra

• Viraj Mithani (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India)

Viraj Mithani’s works highlight the suppression of various ancient rich schools of art, such as Madhubani, Warli, Gond, Mughal, etc, under colonization and western art history domination. While exploring giclee, his prints intend to revive these lost art forms keeping in mind its interpretations in this contemporary pop culture. ‘This body of work, retrospects to the past, while creating an abstraction of idea of the current present.’

Bastard's Callings to her Last Inheritance, 2019 © Mansi Bhatt

• Mansi Bhatt (Gujarat, India)

Mansi’s photographs represent a metaphorical satire, wherein photographs are shot on a human body metaphorically compared to a landscape or soil. There is a subtle interplay between the representative scale of body and realistic dimension of a city.

'This interlacing of body/landscape interestingly opens up possibilities of excavation and archaeological discovery of new lands which further suggest more layers beneath.'

Bastard's Calling to her Last Inheritance: Home Drill performance by Mansi Bhatt

Bhatt delivered a 20 mins performance connecting her audience with the central idea of unwantedness in one's home. Her performance conveyed a strong message- "Women do not claim inheritance !!!"

"All proceeds from sales of the works in this exhibition will go to the artists and towards the publication of the book ‘Mapping Residencies in India – Post Independence starting from the Sarabhais till today."

If you haven't yet explored "Making Spaces" at Sakshi Art Gallery then do join Saloni Doshi for the "Finssage" and Curatorial Walk through on 19th October, 2019, 7 pm onwards.

Image © Sakshi Art Gallery and Space 118

On display from 19th September - 19th October, 2019