FRAGMENTS OF THE FUTURE: TRANSITIONS IN CONTEMPORARY ART- II
Fragments of the Future was an art experience that blurred the traditional boundaries and provided a window to the evolving narratives of identity, migration, urbanisation, and the fusion of old and new. Through their groundbreaking mediums and thought-provoking techniques, these visionary artists invited the viewer to reimagine culture, challenge conventions, and question the spaces we inhabit.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
This exhibit — that took place from January 10th to 12th, 2025, at Reliance Jio Garden, BKC, Mumbai, as part of Ajio Luxe Weekend 2025 — redefined cultural engagement and set new standards for artistic collaboration.
Let’s step in to see what magic was weaved by the artists that were showcased:
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
Shambhavi
Shambhavi, a painter, printmaker, and installation artist from Patna and currently based in New Delhi, creates art that bridges the relationship between humanity and nature, often reflecting on the social and spiritual lives of agricultural workers. Shambhavi’s practice is largely non-figurative, exploring themes of memory, rootedness, and the metaphysical through diverse media and processes. Notably, her work Cosmic Seeds Light/Beej Brahmaand Ek was acquired by MoMA in 2012, while her 2020 piece, Bhoomi and Lullaby, became part of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art’s permanent collection.
In her recent work, Palm, Peepal, and Lotus series (2024), Shambhavi uses metal sculptures to evoke the delicate forms of nature — palm fronds, peepal leaves, and lotus petals — imbued with cultural and personal resonance. These sculptures, while forged in iron, capture the fragility of their organic counterparts and reflect her rural roots in Bihar. By blending personal memory with cultural symbolism, the works become meditative explorations of belonging, spirituality, and the enduring connections between humanity and nature.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
Probir Gupta
Probir Gupta, an artist trained in India and Paris, began his career with a disciplined form of abstract painting that, while precise, remained distant from his deep-rooted interests in Marxist ideologies and subaltern discourse. In the mid-to-late 1990s, Gupta’s artistic practice began exploring themes such as human rights, class and communal tensions, labor relations, and civic issues through a dynamic blend of forms, materials, and imagery.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
He showcased some very thought-provoking works in this exhibition; creating a thought-provoking dialogue on power, consumption, and the human condition. Through Capitalist Symbols and Products (2008) Gupta critiques capitalism’s power dynamics through a muscular figure symbolising political and corporate authority. Within the figure’s bloated belly lies a chaotic array of objects, representing the unrestrained consumption that sustains capitalist systems. The piece serves as a potent metaphor for the commodification of life and the destructive cycle of acquisition and exploitation. In His Master’s Voice, Gupta critiques the post-Iraq War era under the Bush administration. The artwork reflects on the manipulation of people as tools of aggression and violence, symbolising the devastating consequences of imperialistic agendas.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
Pranati Panda
Pranati Panda, an artist based in Gurugram, delves into the intricate layers of consciousness, life, and existence through her evocative creations. Her tactile, process-driven art employs fabric and thread, drawing on feminine symbolism to evoke introspection has won her accolades in both India and internationally, with shows at esteemed venues like the India Art Fair, Vadehra Art Gallery, and Rizq Art Initiative.
For Pranati, the process of creating is as significant as the outcome. The rhythmic act of stitching mirrors the passage of time, offering moments of observation and coexistence without definitive conclusions. Through fabric and thread, she weaves stories of self-awareness and timelessness. In this exhibition, Pranati’s Growing Within series (2024) reflected her deep engagement with time and self-discovery. Using materials such as ply, fabric, synthetic and cotton thread, glue, ink, and acrylic, each piece captures moments of meditative creation. The act of hand-stitching becomes a metaphor for marking time — a dialogue between hand and mind where each stitch embodies a quiet mindfulness. Red, a recurring motif, symbolises the life force and vitality at the heart of existence.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
Manisha Beswani
Manisha Gera Baswani is a multidisciplinary artist whose artistic journey often intertwines lived experiences with creative exploration. One such journey began with her series of perforated pin incision drawings, inspired by the repetitive acupuncture treatments she underwent during a prolonged illness. These perforations, initially on paper, led her to discover the intricate beauty of Chikankari embroidery, which she seamlessly incorporated into her artistic repertoire. Manisha’s projects extend beyond traditional mediums. Her photo series Artist Through the Lens and the Partition-inspired Postcards from Home have been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Partition Museum.
In Fragments of the Future, she came up with her artwork Bagh (2000), which embodies her transformative journey with pain and healing. Reflecting on how acupuncture needles brought relief, she began incising paper with sharp pins, finding solace in the process. These perforations transformed the paper’s surface into a canvas of life and beauty. For Manisha, the repetitive act of pinning echoed her parents’ stories of Partition — pain and healing intertwined. Some of these pieces evolved into luminous light boxes, symbolising how acupuncture brought light and recovery into her life. Through her art, Manisha weaves a narrative of resilience, transformation, and the profound connection between suffering and renewal.
Photo courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
Valay Gada
Valay Gada, a Delhi-based artist and designer, channels his deep concern for the environment into art that explores the effects of urbanisation and climate change on nature. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Jain philosophy, and mythology, Valay crafts works that are as thought-provoking as they are visually compelling. He has exhibited world over in countries like the UK, Germany, Australia, and the UAE and won many accolades including the “Elle Décor International Design Award” for Young Talent (2014) and the “Trends” Excellence in Architecture and Design Award (2016).
Valay exhibited his 2022 sculpture Cymbidium Tigrinum in this exhibition that captures the delicate balance of nature. The piece highlights how human activities, from the commercial cultivation of ornamental plants to deforestation, endanger these fragile ecosystems. Through this evocative creation, Valay underscores the precarious future of species like the Cymbidium orchid, blending artistry with a poignant call for environmental awareness.
Text by Shalini Passi
Image Courtesy: Ajio Luxe Wkend 2025
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