‘Erasing Borders: Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora’

Eight years ago, the very first contemporary art event of the New York-based Indo-American Arts Council brought to people’s attention that there are artists of Indian origin in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. The area has one of the largest concentrations of South Asians in the United States.

‘Erasing Borders: Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art of the Diaspora’ includes sculpture, video and installation art on view at Manhattan’s Aicon Gallery. All 43 featured artists, including renowned abstract expressionist painter Natvar Bhavsar, are connected to South Asia.

According to Aroon Shivdasani, the council’s executive director, the selection process was made a lot more inclusive last year. “Rather than limiting it to people of Indian origin—because you know, that’s so nebulous—we opened it up to the entire subcontinent,” she stated.

“When we first had our exhibition, years ago, artists sent work thinking we wanted them to deliberately trace their roots. But now, increasingly, you see that people are people – especially since so many of us have spent years in our adopted lands. Their art may be something that harks from their heritage, but it may also be a part of their life today.”

For 27-year old Sara Suleman a Temple University graduate student who was born and raised in Pakistan, the exhibition’s expansion is a chance to showcase her video art, centered on concepts like displacement and transition.

Young participants, like Sonia Chaudhary see this exhibition as an opportunity to push past these borders. Growing up in a tight-knit Muslim community in suburban Connecticut, Ms. Chaudhary regularly struggled with two seemingly opposing community dynamics. “There were the teachings I encountered, going to the masjid with my mom every Sunday, and then the American school system, where I was told I should really question where I’m coming from to find out who I am,” she said in a recent phone interview.

(Information courtesy: The WSJ, By Aarti Virani)