Exploring the self, gender and sexuality

Anita Dube’s aesthetic language incorporates ubiquitous objects, everyday materials and images that together resonate with a meaning far beyond perceived local and prosaic associations. Her work brings together experiences of mortality, desire, pain and pleasure – all rolled in one.

She looks to explore the self, gender, sexuality and fundamental human concerns. Employing a variety of found objects drawn from a wide array of domains and sources like the industrial (foam, plastic, wire), the somatic (dentures, bones), craft (threads, beads, velvet, sequins, pearls), the ritual and the popular (ceramic eyes), she handles a divergent range of subjects to unveil and share her concerns.

While looking to address the curious concept of ‘skins’, she would fastidiously wrap and cover certain objects referencing fragile female concealment. The distinguishing marks suggest femaleness. Apart from this, shapes resembling nature are collated with industrial elements that act remind us of dicey environmental conditions often taken for granted by a certain section of populations, but valued by the other. She quips: "Where I come from in India, we are used to save everything; it’s re-used. The essential logic of capitalist forces is to have more, the culture of excess and hence also to generate more waste."

In her unusual works of art, natural materials and organic forms play a significant role. Employing various found objects sourced from the diverse realms of craft, industry and the body, coupled with readymade objects, she investigates basic human concerns related to personal & societal loss/ regeneration. The intriguing installations can thus be contextualized in relation to rather ponderous topical things.

Born in Lucknow in 1958, Anita Dube completed her graduation in History from the University of Delhi, and later did her masters (art criticism) from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University, Baroda. Trained as an art critic, she avidly read different texts, not stopping with religion alone. In her own life, art started therapeutically. According to her, the therapeutic power is one of its great values.