New Delhi, March 1 Artist Ravi Chunchula will explore the subtle ways in which individuals are shaped by their surroundings, routines, and social structures in his solo exhibition "Sardhubaatu: Put Together, Somehow", which begins on March 6.
The exhibition, to be held at Bikaner House, meditates on the process of becoming – how identity is gradually assembled through lived experience rather than being formed in fixed or definitive moments.
It is presented by ChampaTree Art Gallery and curated by Archana Sapra and Pooja Bahri.
The word "Sardhubaatu," derived from Telugu, loosely translates to "put together" or "arranged."
However, in Chunchula's practice, the phrase resists a neat resolution. According to the organizers, his figures appear composed yet tentative, calm yet inwardly charged, suggesting states of being that are continuously negotiated rather than fixed.
"Sardhubaatu" is about the quiet process of becoming – how we are constantly shaped by what we see, where we stand, and who we are surrounded by. These works are less about telling a story and more about capturing a moment where things feel temporarily aligned, even if imperfect," Chunchula said in a statement.
The works, primarily rendered on rice paper, allow pigment to settle organically into the surface, staining and evolving over time.
According to the curators, the fragile materiality forms a key part of the exhibition's visual language, echoing how experiences accumulate gradually, leaving subtle traces on identity and perception.
"Ravi's work speaks through restraint. There is a deep attentiveness in the way his figures inhabit space – quiet, grounded, and profoundly human. With Sardhubaatu, we were drawn to how subtly the works reflect contemporary existence, without spectacle or excess," they added.
Therefore, rather than depicting specific individuals, the figures aim to evoke a shared psychological condition, occupying everyday spaces suspended between habit and awareness, solitude and collective presence.
The opening evening will feature a live theatre performance titled "Where Is My Mind?", conceived by Rohit Chauhan and ensemble. This time-bound intervention will explore belief, conformity, influence, and freedom through movement and visual symbolism.
The exhibition will close on March 14.
MG