Imperial Silhouettes: Shadows of Sovereignty is a thought-provoking collective exhibition organised by Rizq Art Initiative (RAi) and curated by Premish Achari. The show, running through 30 January 2025, invites audiences to confront their roles in perpetuating oppressive systems and envision a future centred on justice and liberation.
The exhibition spotlights experiences of marginalised communities, fostering dialogue, introspection, and unity. It challenges visitors to critically examine the dynamics of power and privilege in contemporary society. Through diverse mediums, spanning paintings, sculptures, installations, and performance art, the participating artists delve into themes of identity, culture, and global politics, pondering the legacies of empires and the fight for equality and self-determination.
The exhibition features the works by acclaimed American contemporary artist Kara Walker, who is famous for her room-size black cut-paper silhouettes. In her art, she explores race, gender, violence, and identity.
Also on view are Kenyan artist Sujay Shah‘s pieces, whose practice examines intertwined cultural ideologies, myths, and histories, addressing colonial legacies embedded in our surroundings. Another Kenyan artist, Wambui Kamiru, produces installations with everyday objects. She focuses on history, colonialism, and memory in Africa alongside themes of womanhood and social issues.
Ghanaian artist Yaw Owusu creates fascinating sculptural installations, using unusual materials and found objects, mainly the pesewa coins, which he repurposes and gives new meaning. The artist interrogates economic and political independence in modern Ghana.
Famous for his cartographic works that often respond to various marginalised communities, Filipino interdisciplinary artist Cyan Dayritt investigates colonialism, ethnography, archaeology, history, and mythology. He also examines representations of power and identity in monuments, museums, and maps.
Polish artist Michal Martychowiec‘s practice, incorporating photography, film, drawing, neon, painting, sculpture, and installation, explores historical narratives and philosophical ideas intertwined with socio-political commentary. Through his art, he challenges viewers to reconsider their understanding of the past, present, and future.
Brazilian artist Jonathas de Andrade‘s installations, photography, and video works examine constructs of love and urbanisation, focusing on the cultural dynamics of Brazil’s northeast. Meanwhile, in her work, Pakistani architect, teacher, and artist Bibi Hajra addresses themes of urban segregation and development, religious symbolism, and the aesthetics of the city.
The exhibition also presents works by several Indian creatives, including Sudharshan Shetty, Priyaranjan Purkait, Ishita Chakrabort, Sibdas Sengupta, Ravi Agarwal, and Amjum Rizve, among others.
Conceptual artist Sudharshan Shetty creates hybrid constructions, mechanical devices, and multimedia compositions that merge Indian and Western traditions. The artist explores the inner and exterior realms of daily life, reflecting on the fleeting and constantly changing nature of things.
Artist and poet Ishita Chakraborty‘s work, which encompasses drawings, installations, poetry, performance, and sound, revolves around resistance, colonial trauma, and climate justice, while Amjum Rizve, whose art draws from his life experiences, seeks to elaborate his socio-political activity and arguments through the images. Rizve’s creations are deeply influenced by Mughal and Persian miniatures. Other sources of his inspiration include mythology, religion, poetry, literature, and decorative art from Eastern and Western traditions.
In Priyaranjan Purkait‘s works, fabric serves as a subject and metaphor he employs to examine human experiences. Meanwhile, conceptual artist, writer, and curator Sibdas Sengupta investigates abstraction, historical gaps, and transformative philosophies in his multidisciplinary practice.
Ravi Agarwal, an artist, photographer, writer, curator, and well-known environmental activist, blends art and activism to address ecological challenges. He highlights the intersections of labour, capital, and caste and their association with ecology.
You can learn more about Imperial Silhouettes: Shadows of Sovereignty on its official web page.
Additionally, you might be interested in visiting the Neither Here ~ Nor Elsewhere group exhibition.
