Although artist Jitish Kallat shows quite often in the US, he is exhibiting in New York after a gap. In fact, his last solo at the Philadelphia Museum was also in the New York Times “Best of Art 2017 NY Times” listings. The Mumbai-based artist is having a seminal show “Decimal Point” at Sperone Westwater Gallery, New York.
The exhibition showcases 24 works ranging from photographs, sculptures, drawings and videos in different sizes, in the show. “As an exhibition 'Decimal Point' is a culmination of several strands of inquiries, explored over the last few years. While my last three solo exhibitions in the US were at museums such as Art Institute of Chicago, San Jose Museum of Art and the Philadelphia Museum, its been a long time since I had a gallery solo in New York. Exhibiting in a place like New York is always an exhilarating proposition given the huge density of art that is on view all around the city all year round. At this moment I also recall my first solo in New York which was in 1999 and I was 25 at the time,” says Jitish. The exhibition is spread across three floors of Sperone Westwater Gallery, an eight storey building designed by Norman Foster.
Asia Contemporary Art Week (ACAW) Curatorial & Educational Platform in collaboration with Sperone Westwater & Asia Society Museum is also organising a discussion “Dialogues in Asian Contemporary Art: Jitish Kallat with Boon Hui Tan and Leeza Ahmady” on April 28.
One of the top contemporary artists in India, Jitish curated Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2014.
- Jitish Kallat’s work “Baggage Claim” has found a permanent space at Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris. The work was acquired two years ago. When Jitish had his survey exhibition at National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Delhi, in 2017, the museum loaned the work for the show.
Sperone Westwater gallery not only boasts a rich history but with nine stories, it is also an architectural marvel. The gallery which was founded in 1975 has a movable exhibition space as its hallmark. Jitish is ecstatic about the timing of his show. “My exhibition opens at a very interesting moment in New York's artistic season coinciding with the New Museum Triennial which happens right next door to Sperone Westwater and Frieze New York which opens a few days after the opening of my exhibition.
(The exhibition is on view at Sperone Westwater till June 16, 2018)
Published - April 26, 2018 05:13 pm IST