Amarkanwar. companions

About the Exhibition

This exhibition is centered on two major media installations by Indian artist Amar Kanwar. Its theme is a visual exploration of the individual, society, and political circumstance, characterized by a philosophical and poetic approach that examines human nature at the intersection of art, documentation, and activism. Since the 1990s, Amar Kanwar has explored the politics of power, violence, and resistance through film and media works, creating multilayered stories built from parallel narratives, viewed through his position as an observer of contemporary South Asian history. The exhibition includes two installations in total: The Torn First Pages (made from 2004 to 2008) and Tomb of the Cockle Shell (completed in 2023). The Torn First Pages addresses the complexity of Myanmar's (Burma's) struggle for democracy, emphasizing the violence of the regime and the spirit of resistance. Tomb of the Cockle Shell offers a contemporary meditation on death, transience, and the cycle of life, providing a visual and auditory experience through text, abstract imagery, and raga music. Through the artist's visual and narrative tools, the exhibition prompts philosophical reflection on human nature, justice and injustice, and the consequences of human hubris.