An artistic preoccupation with mystifying migratory patterns

Mumbai based Gallery BMB since its inception has presented several groundbreaking exhibitions of the very best and highly talented international and Indian contemporary artists. It has attained the distinction to be the first to feature many international artists of the highest quality and caliber who, in spite of critical acclaim from prestigious art institutions, have seldom been shown on this continent. Along with them, many outstanding emerging Indian artists also form part of the gallery’s exciting and dynamic program. As its website notes:

“Blurring traditional boundaries between an art space and a commercial gallery, Gallery BMB houses a unique art bookshop with a dedicated reading area and onsite café. BMB’s holistic concept is for the gallery to be a truly interactive space – a cultural hub which welcomes and connects people from different walks of life with art.”

A new exhibition testifies Gallery BMB’s commitment to novel concepts and offbeat themes. ‘A Place of Their Own’ is based on a preoccupation with mystifying migratory patterns and the subsequent straddling of cultures that is evident in the works of several talented artists who belong to South Asian-American Diaspora. The trend has been pronounced over the past couple of decades. Taking a cue from it, a younger generation of artists explores an array of media from collage to mine and video art to watercolor share autobiographical experiences.

The journeys of artists like Gautam Kansara, Fawad Khan, Samanta Batra Mehta, Mala Iqbal and Maryam Jafri overlap in a new show, entitled ‘A Place of Their Own’. By putting their diverse practices up alongside each other, the subtle tensions, psychological impetuses and internal forces - the key drivers of an immigrant experience, vie for attention. However, the Diaspora artists are not mere itinerants; for the duration of this show, they have an address. The group show offers a venue for a critical dialogue about their body of work.

This exhibition of South-Asian American Diaspora Artists Is curated by noted art critic and scholar Sharmistha Ray.