United by Art

Moments in Collapse, SAHMAT's group exhibition at Jawahar Bhawan in Delhi brings together artworks with politically charged themes

- Aditya Mani Jha

Artist Pushpamala N.'s 30-second video installation 'Urgent Saaru' is one of the most intriguing parts of Moments in Collapse, a group exhibition by SAHMAT (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust) at Delhi's Jawahar Bhawan, which is on till June 20. This is a recording of a live performance-the video sees Pushpamala dressed as 'Bharat Mata', recreating a rasam recipe by her late friend and neighbour, Gauri Lankesh.

"The video by Pushpamala is a recording of a live performance from a few years ago," says artist Gigi Scaria who has curated Moments in Collapse alongside a five-member team (Ram Rahman, Aban Raza, Vijendra S. Vij, Shatam Ray and Priyanshi S.). "When she was alive, Gauri Lankesh and Pushpamala used to have rasam together at the latter's house.