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2nd Yinchuan Biennale 2018

Starting from the Desert
Ecologies on the Edge

curated by Marco Scotini

June 09 - September 19, 2018

Navjot Altaf, Rajkumar and Shantibai

     
                  
                   
 
   
 

Navjot Altaf, Rajkumar and Shantibai at 2nd Yinchuan Biennale

Navjot Altaf, Rajkumar and Shantibai are represented in the 2nd Yinchuan Biennale, curated by Marco Scotini with curatorial team of Andris Brinkmanis, Paolo Caffoni, Zasha Colah and Lu Xinghua.    

Navjot Altaf presents ‘Soul Breath Wind’ a video project in process based on artist’s research on the political situation, agenda of development and anthropogenic environmental changes in Chhattisgarh.   

The loss and destruction of fertile land and soil, forests and biodiversity have had severe impact on the day to day existence and identity of indigenous communities living there for centuries and their rights to decision making…This has led to massive forced and undesired displacements of local habitants, resulting in marginalization of indigenous way of life, their oral tradition of knowledge, cultural environment  in which both human, other species and  nature could prosper and  cultural dynamics are not destroyed, tacit knowledge which is not always known explicitly. Oral cultures encourage the participatory life of the senses, and are linked to the concept of relationship with more than the human terrain and its potential to create experience at several conscious and subconscious levels. Their relationship to land, forest or water which is rooted in very different conceptual frameworks offers insight into ourselves and the belief in interconnectedness, interdependence. This has been part of the wisdom of people for centuries, which has been transmitted orally across generations. The video addresses the impact of imposed segregation from their live-world in North-Central part of Chhattisgarh and dealing with the conflicts between the communities and the Police force, Police force and the ultra-left forces in South Bastar District … And what is lost and is being lost…” – Navjot Altaf  

Rajkumar and Shantibai present one of their Khambhas each (Memorial Pillars) in wood. Both Rajkumar and Shantibai have written about their works, expressing their concerns with the changing ecology due to the mining and other development projects going on in Chhattisgarh changing the ecological balance of the region impacting their social, economic and cultural life. There is also an issue of state administration colluding with the corporates to bypass environmental and other regulatory issues in place.

Navjot Altaf was granted an international award for Public Art Project for Nalpar and Pilla Gudi – 2013 

                Navjot Altaf’s latest participations include: Free River Zone at the Kunstverein Heidelberg, curated by Tillkrause, Southern Germany, 2017; Landscape of Testimonies: Artist as Witness. Zuleikha Choudhary and KHOJ, New Delhi, India, 2017; Stretched Terrains - Interpositions: Replaying the Inventory, curated by Roobina Karode, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, KNMA, New Delhi, India, 2017; Why Not Ask Again 11th Shanghai Biennale curated by Raqs Media Collective, Shanghai China, 2016/17; Environmental Justice - Film Festival, curated by Heather Davis, Institute for the Arts and Humanities, The Pennsylvania State University - PSU, USA, 2016; Making Sense of Crisis - Art as Schizoanalysis: A Symposium and Exhibition at Khoj, January 2015; Is it what you think? Kiran Nadar Museum, New Delhi, curated by Roobina Karode, 2014; Forms of Activis, Sahmat celebrating 25 years curated by Vivan Sundaram and Sasha Altaf, 2014; Rewriting the landscape : India and China : Contemporary Art from China and India, National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, curated by Choi Eunju and Kate Lim, Korea, 2013; Water: EuropaliaIndia Liege, Belgium, Germany, curated by Gayatri Sinha, 2013; Women In – Between: Asian Women Artists 1984-2012. Fukuoka Asia Art Museum, Okinawa Prefectural Museum and Art Museum, Tochigi Prefectural Museum of fine Arts and Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Japan, curated by Raiji Kuroda, 2012/13.Lacuna in Testimony, Patricia and Phillip  Frost Art Museum, Florida, 2009; Public Places Private Spaces,  Newark Museum, New York and Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, curated by Gayatri Sinha and Paul Stern Berger, 2008; Tiger by the Tail: Women Artists Transforming Culture,  Brandies University / Museum  Boston and New Brunswick Rutgers University, Douglass Library, Newark,curated by Wendy Tarlow Kaplan, Elinor W.Gadon and Roobina Karode, 2008; India Now: Contemporary Indian Art between Continuity and Transition,  Provincia di Milano,Italy,  curated by Daniela Palazzoli, 2007. Navjot Altaf’s works have been shown in Yamuna. Elbe A public art project at the Yamuna in Delhi and the Elbe in Hamburg, curated by Ravi Agarwal (Delhi) and Till Krause (Hamburg), 2011; ‘IN CONTEXT: Public.Art. Ecology’, Project, Khoj International Artists Residency, New Delhi, 2010. Zones of Contact, 15th Biennale of Sydney Australia,  curated by Charles Merewether, 2006; Groundworks: Environmental Collaboration in Contemporary Art, Carnegie Mellon University, (RMG) Pittsburgh, curated by Grant Kester, 2005; Another Passage To India, Theatre Saint-Gervais and Musee d’ Ethnographie, Geneva, Switzerland, curated by Pooja Sood, 2004; Zoom! Art in Contemporary India, Edificia Sede de  Caixo Garal de Depositos, Lisbon, curated by Luis Sepra and Nancy Adajania, 2004; Century City - Bombay/Mumbai: City Politics and Visual Culture in the 90’s, Tate Modern, London, curated by Geeta Kapur and Ashish Rajadhyaksha, 2001;  subTerrain:artworks in the cityfold, Haus der Kulteren der Welt, Berlin curated by Geeta Kapur, 2003; 8th Havana Biennale, Cuba, 2003; Liminal Zones, Apeejay Media Gallery, New Delhi, curated by Pooja Sood, 2003.  

Solo exhibitions include: Lost Text at The Guild, Alibaug 2018, How Perfect Perfection Can Be at The Guild, Alibaug, 2015; Horn in the Head, Sculpture Installation with audio and video, Talwar Gallery, New Delhi, 2013; Touch IV, Video Installation, The Guild, Mumbai, 2010 and Talwar Gallery, New Delhi; A Place in New York an interactive photo based project, The Guild, Mumbai, 2010; Touch- Remembering Altaf, Video and motor based sculpture Installation, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 2008; Bombay Shots, an interactive photo based project, The Guild, Mumbai, 2008; Junctions 1 2 3, The Guild, Mumbai, 2006 and Jagar Multimedia Installation, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai, 2006; Water Weaving, Video Installation, Talwar Gallery, New York, 2005, among others.  
 

Rajkumar was born in 1972, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. He trained under Master Craftsperson Raituram and has been part of the Dialogue Interactive Artists Association (DIAA) since inception. His works have been shown in Museums, institutions and galleries. Some of his select shows include: Not under Great Law, not under Sacred Law, curated by Navjot Altaf at The Guild, Alibaug;  Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India, curated by Chaitanya Sambrani that travelled to Perth, New York, Mexico City, Monterrey, Berkeley, New Delhi and Mumbai (2004-2007); Solo exhibition at Sakshi Gallery, 2007 and group show Sculptures and Paintings – artists from Kondagaon, Bastar, 2004 and Modes of Parallel Practice: Ways of World Making – phase II, Sakshi Gallery, 2001; Modes of Parallel Practice: Ways of World Making, Phase 1, Sakshi Gallery Mumbai and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, as part of First Asian Art Triennale Fukuoka, Japan, 1998-1999; Nalpar, site oriented sculptural structures, co-operative project with Navjot Altaf, Shantibai and Gessuram, supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2000-02; Self Exploration, Interactive project at Shilpi Gram with others, supported by IFAD, 2000-02; Collaboration as a Strategy in Indian Contemporary Art, collaborative project, Nalpar and Pilla Gudi with others and supported by IFAD and IFA, India Foundation for the Arts, 2000 -04. Rajkumar has been participating in seminars Samvad 1, 2 and 3, at DIAA, and has been organizing community activities since 2003. His works are in many important private collections including Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan.  

Shantibai was born in 1960, Bastar district, Chhattisgarh. She trained under Master Craftsperson and husband Raituram and has been part of Dialogue Interactive Artists Association (DIAA) since inception. Her works have been shown in Museums, institutions and galleries. Some of her select shows include: Not under Great Law, not under Sacred Law, curated by Navjot Altaf at The Guild, Alibaug; Sculptures and Paintings – artists from Kondagaon, Bastar, 2004 and Modes of Parallel Practice: Ways of World Making – phase II, 2001, Sakshi Gallery; Modes of Parallel Practice: Ways of World Making, Phase 1, Sakshi Gallery Mumbai and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, as part of First Asian Art Triennale Fukuoka, Japan 1998-1999; Nalpar, site oriented sculptural structures, co-operative project with Navjot Altaf, Rajkumar and Gessuram, supported by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), 2000-02; Self Exploration, Interactive project at Shilpi Gram with others, supported by IFAD, 2000-02; Collaboration as a Strategy in Indian Contemporary Art, collaborative project Nalpar and Pilla Gudi with others and supported by IFAD and IFA, India Foundation for the Arts 2000-2004. Shantibai has been participating in seminars Samvad 1, 2 and 3, at DIAA, and has organized art workshops for children since 2003. Her works are in many important private collections including Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan.

 

   
 

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