Exhibit320 in New Delhi, India recently presented Tales from the East: Embers, Echoes, and Stories of Shifting Earth. The group exhibition brought together the works of five artists for an offering of Bangladeshi and Indian art that explored themes of toil, land transformation, urban decay and migration. It ran from July 18 - August 15, 2024, and was organised by Prayag Chakradhar, art curator and project manager at Exhibit320. Chakradhar sat down with STIR to discuss the exhibition.

The works in Tales from the East explored a range of mediums. Indian artist Ajay Chakradhar showed visual art created from the mica that is mined in the state of Jharkhand in India, often under brutal labour conditions, while Bangladeshi artist Mohd Musa presented large-scale charcoal drawings that depict his home village intertwined with massive, desolate landscapes. They were joined by film director, screenwriter and photographer Ronny Sen, whose photographs took audiences back to Jharkhand—to Jharia district—to explore the ecological disaster and human suffering caused by unmoderated coal burning. Visual artist, designer and educator Sareena Khemka’s abstract mixed media works were created through materials sourced from dumping sites and addressed the transformation and decay of urban spaces and finally, Suryakanta Swain also looked at urban environments, creating mixed-media installation works with construction materials like bricks and cement bags, drawing attention to the constant construction and destruction that typifies cities.

This compelling narrative underscores the critical need for reforms and support for these communities, who are among the most vulnerable. – Prayag Chakradhar, Art Curator and Project Manager, Exhibit320

Sen’s portrayal of mica and coal mining in Jharkhand stole the show for his profoundly affecting vision of nature and humanity. His photographs intertwined the stunning, almost extraterrestrial natural beauty of India’s Eastern Ghats with its continual degradation and the harsh conditions faced by the labourers that toil away in its mines. Chakradhar tells STIR, “This compelling narrative underscores the critical need for reforms and support for these communities, who are among the most vulnerable.” While Sen’s photographs succeed in portraying the plight of coal and mica labourers, they also shine a light on the resilience of these communities. In Chakradhar’s words, “[The exhibition] captures how they manage to find beauty in their bonds and in the small, everyday joys that life offers.” Sen’s subjects are not one-dimensional victims, but rather multifaceted individuals who struggle against the odds to uplift themselves. STIR previously interviewed Sen about his practice and rethinking political structures.

Going beyond Sen’s works, Musa’s charcoal drawing works were spellbinding. The artist masterfully blends his memories to draw viewers into a world that could be considered a mental topography of sorts, resonating strongly with Sen’s portrayal of the coal mines of Jharkhand. The curator compares these bodies of work and mentions that they both bring to mind the countless untold stories of human beings who travel great distances to toil away in pursuit of a better future. He discusses the dialogue that Sen and Musa’s works engage in, telling STIR, “It challenges viewers to contemplate how progress can be achieved without sacrificing human dignity or the integrity of our planet…”

Exhibit320’s art exhibition was moving and thought-provoking, shining a light on the fraught relationship between human beings and the environments we inhabit. The format of a group show worked well to present multiple practices and perspectives along these lines. Many of the show’s visitors likely hope that we see more of Sen and Musa in particular at the gallery soon.

‘Tales from the East: Embers, Echoes, and Stories of Shifting Earth’ ran from July 18 - August 15, 2024, at Exhibit320, New Delhi.