Must visit in February: Subodh Gupta’s exhibition in Bihar Museum of Patna

A quick internet search on Subodh Gupta is enough to fill your screen with a treasury of stunning works of art. With almost two decades of creating larger-than-life masterpieces using the humble bartan (kitchen utensil) and exhibiting at some of the most prestigious museums and art galleries of the world, the artistic genius has returned to his homeland with an extensive exhibition at the Bihar Museum of Patna. 

The Way Home, as the title suggests, is a tribute to his upbringing in Bihar which has inspired a major part of his artistic journey. Curated by Anjani Kumar, Director General of the Bihar Museum, this is a milestone solo exhibition that features twenty major sculptures from 2003 to 2024 and is on view till the 15th of February, 2025.

The Indian icon

Currently practising out of New Delhi and Gurugram, Subodh was born in the 1960s in Khagaul, Bihar. His practice taps into the lives of the common Indian by using the most basic household items found throughout the country, as well as specific icons that symbolise the rapid changes and economic developments that have taken place in India in the past 30 years. 

He uses varied Indian kitchen utensils to sculpt a myriad of minimal as well as maximal works that are both challenging and conceptually complex. Retaining an Indian vocabulary, he experiments with the prominent schools of Modern Art developed in the West during the 20th century and uses everyday items such as motorcycles, milk pails, airport trolleys, thali trays, an Ambassador car and tiffins, apart from bartans.

Rooted in tradition 

The museum becomes a particularly appropriate location for the exhibition as it houses Yantra, the monumental sculpture, made by Subodh in 2017. This permanent work measures 7 mtr in diameter and is a giant mandala constructed from real appliances (such as refrigerators, air conditioners, and washing machines) in addition to his signature bartans, in giant sizes.

The exhibition, The Way Home, intends to showcase the illustrious journey of the internationally renowned artist and serves as an opportunity to witness Subodh’s diverse repertoire.

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