A Subodh Gupta solo in Finland

Sara Hildén Art Museum in Finland hosts a solo of recent works by Subodh Gupta, whom it describes as ‘the superstar of India's contemporary art’, and also among the most important names in international contemporary art. His paintings, sculptures, installations and performance art - related to Indian tradition and change in the society - present Indian lifestyle in a recognizable visual language. He belongs to the new generation of artists who study and project the Indian identity on a global level.

Themes of economic growth, materialism and emigration are conveyed through ordinary objects. Steel lunch boxes, thali pans or bicycles reflect the artist's personal life and memories, apart from dealing with the Indian way of life and everyday culture. The mass-produced utensils have played a significant role in the artist’s creative processes.

They project an ambiguous symbolism: whilst they are considered as exotic and representative of intriguing Indian culture in the West, to people in India they remain common objects, used almost daily in every household. He intelligently harnesses these hybrid associations, letting them quietly resonate in his viewers’ mind.

Born in the poor Indian countryside in the state Bihar, and now based in Delhi - his journey in a way is an allegory of today's India - the growing middle class that migrated from villages to cities is clearing the path for change, embracing capitalist culture. Before his education as a visual artist, Subodh Gupta, passionate about film, was a street theatre actor. The artist is interested in what inevitably disappears in this dramatic process of change. His monumental sculptures and installations symbolize the transition from ancient Indian culture to the modern way of life.

The exhibition features 10 paintings, a 29 piece bodypaint series, several sculptures and installations by him.