A graduate from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University and National Institute of Design, Shruti Mahajan uses her own perceptions of privacy and boundaries to create a display orienting around access control. With a decorated background in art, Shruti brings her knowledge of German arts characteristics to Hyderabad.
Borders galore
The first thing one will see upon walking into ‘Seal’ at Goethe Zentrum is the haphazard and trailing line of barbed wire mounted against a wall. Though made of paper, the message hits home. Those familiar with the mediagraphy of German aesthetics will immediately appreciate the distinct traits of powerful minimalism. Against the stark white walls, the artworks seem to stand out a lot more and speak volumes of the themes addressed.
The display does not feature any description cards for the set-ups,all the more to motivate the viewer to make their own interpretations. With sombre shades of grey, black and browns used, the mood of the gallery is not a cheerful one but does motivate a lot of thought.
Artworks titled ‘Seal’ presented by Shruti Mahajan at Goethe-Zentrum touch upon the theme of access control
Migration, being one of the biggest contemporary discussions in public spheres, is touched upon in ‘Seal.’ Experimenting with notions of ‘home’ and ‘homelessness,’ Shruti’s portrayal of territory is best put across through a self-made film that plays during the exhibition. A gloved hand uses charcoal to carve out borders, while the sounds of shouts and angsty chatter play in the background. It becomes clear that this film is a nod to the border conflicts of Kashmir. Being an army wife, Shruti has conveyed her observations through this vivid audio-visual presentation very well; there’s an intimacy that comes with it— while not being a soldier, she is still on an important frontline.
A rack comprising strung-up photographs of gates enforces the notions of frontiers. The photographs each communicate the identity of what is beyond these gates; are they official properties or homes? In this way, Shruti encapsulates that borders, too, have their own individualities, inviting viewers to come and peruse their structures, not just what they lead to.
Artworks titled ‘Seal’ presented by Shruti Mahajan at Goethe-Zentrum touch upon the theme of access control
Drawings of boxes also present a smaller, while not typical, form of access control; a confinement we can actually control unlike borders and frontiers, giving the exhibition a multifacetedness.
The rustic nature about Shruti’s exhibition will surely reach out to viewers in its most base form. It’s worth checking out if you’re into the darker aspects of humanity, especially in wartime.
‘Seal’ will be on display until July 11 2017 (9:30am - 6:30pm) at Hamburg Hall at Goethe-Zentrum Hyderabad. For details, Call 040-23350443.
