this is
himanshu s
may be

The Guild art gallery is delighted to present a very unsual semi autobiographical works by Mumbai based artist himanshu s. We would love to invite you for the evening with the artist.

himanshu s. believes in ‘art which speaks of power of connectedness and that which calls us into relationships’- himanshu s.  

‘this is himanshu s. maybe’, brings forth collectibles, objects and painted works that the artist cherishes as living memoirs of conversations and interactions with people he likes to share. It is difficult to categorize his work within a certain ‘idiom’ as he works with a consciousness of the fact that art becomes a ‘commodity’ or a ‘museum-object’ within a gallery-space. Thus his works bring forth difficulties of working with an idea or form that would enrich perceptions (may be of protest) as well as transgress existing categories.

One may say, he demolishes the concept of the spaces of embellishment, may it be an institute, a gallery, or one’s home, and bring forth the temporal nature of objects and human contacts. This conceptualizes the nature of his objects, may it be a ‘found’ one, or one made with hands in the process of teaching and learning.

In his previous solo exhibition ‘An Interval between Two Non-occurrences’ he explored his own collectibles and established an irony for a space constantly in flux (in the city of Mumbai) - ‘home’ that may preserve memories from childhood onwards. He introduced the visitors to finer strands of human thoughts, of not being able to segregate what is precious and what has to be disposed off from memory like ‘a ticket for a film’.

According to himanshu this process is more essential than an event created. Some of the important elements of his process are - knowing the city’s streets, taking long walks, talking to people and creating notes. He likes to look at a lot of material that gets put up, and create public spaces. He likes reading poetry that turn into songs like Bob Dylan’s, watching music videos of chosen bands, and even synopsis of films.        

Some of his important contributions are as follows:

·      ‘keep  in  circulation  the  rumor  that  god  is  alive’… the rumor  was  back  in  circulation  during the  Kala  ghoda  Arts  Festival  2007,  Mumbai. Also at the local public toilets in Mumbai. 

·       In  Dog  We  Trust,  at  Kala ghoda  Arts  Festival  2007,  Mumbai

·      Booked  Street,  a  site-specific  work  on  the  pavement,  at  the  Kala ghoda  Arts  Festival,  2008, ’07, ‘06,  Mumbai. Also at the  schools and colleges in Mumbai. 

·      ‘this  revolution  is  for  display’,  :an  assemblage  of  images  as  well  as  music  to  do  with movements  wherein  art  &  protest  moved  hand  in  hand…celebrating  the  times  when  ‘everything seemed possible’…displayed  at  Kala ghoda  Arts  Festival, 2007,  Mumbai

himanshu discontinued his Bachelor’s Degree from Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai in 2003 because his works were not considered ‘academic’.

Since then he has been involved in teaching, and has participated in a number of group shows. ‘this is himanshu s. may be’  is his third solo exhibition in Mumbai. He lives and works in Mumbai.