Subodh Gupta, one of India's most celebrated artists, is set to showcase his work in a major exhibition titled 'A fistful of sky' at NMACC's Art House in Mumbai. The show, which opens on April 3, will feature a mix of old and new works, including a large installation of a pillar that has been 10 years in the making.
The exhibition is structured across four floors, each with its own emotional and conceptual rhythm. The first floor will introduce visitors to a mix of early works and new pieces, while the second floor will be devoted to installation, drawing from a central thematic idea tied to the exhibition's title.
The third floor will feature the monumental pillar, titled 'Kingdom of earth,' which is inspired by ruins that Gupta encountered through his travels across India and the West. The pillar is accompanied by an atmosphere that evokes an antique land, featuring a dinosaur bone, a moose, and an ostrich.
Alongside these installations, a quieter body of work emerges: a series of three paintings titled 'Inner garden.' These works present an arrangement of balance, rhythm, and inner equilibrium, drawing inspiration from the philosophy of ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement.
Another striking body of work in the exhibition is a series titled 'Nine stupa,' which features sculptural forms inspired by Buddhist architecture, but made from used and discarded aluminium utensils. The artist got the idea during a visit to Ladakh, where clusters of small stupas dot the landscape.
Gupta's connection to Bihar remains deeply personal, and his work is often talked about in the context of the global readymade. However, his use of kitchen utensils and other everyday objects to talk about sustenance, memory, and the unspoken infrastructure of home sets him apart from other artists.
The exhibition will be on view for six weeks, offering a unique opportunity to experience Gupta's journey and his exploration of the inner and outer worlds.
