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Reena KALLAT, <Hyphenated lives>, mIxed media, 2016 Courtesy of Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai and Nature Morte Gallery, New Delhi
Reena KALLAT Hyphenated lives
<Hyphenated Lives>(2015-2016) is a reconfiguration of fantastical mutations taking place in nature. Various species of birds, animals, trees, flowers that symbolize different countries are hybridized to connect conflicts between countries by hyphens in a symbolic way. Reena Kallat felt the need to express the impact an existence or extinction of something can have on other species through the use of species other than human. The motif of the series of such works came from electric cables. An electric cable which transfers thoughts and information brings people together, and forms painstakingly woven entanglements that transform barbed wires such as barriers. Exploration of such independence and interdependence casts light on the relationship between the conflicted selves, neighbors and perhaps countries. It also makes us ponder upon many different relationships and boundaries that constitute our complex existence. The artist has continued works under the same context for many years, and <Two Degrees> which was presented at Campbeltown Arts Center in Sydney was the start of such series of works. The focus of the work expanded from her long-standing interest on politically divided yet historically close countries to natural resources that are at the root of conflicts and disputes between divided countries such as India-Pakistan, Ireland-England, Israel-Palestine, South Korea-North Korea, and the USA-Cuba. |
