A 25-year conversation with Italy

Venice opens its historic state archive for the first time for Dayanita Singh’s exhibition

- VEENU SANDHU New Delhi, 21 April

Dayanita Singh's exhibition, “Archivio”, at the Archivio di Stato (state archive) in Venice

(PHOTO: GABRIELE BOGHLIC)

When Dayanita Singh’s exhibition, “Archivio” (Italian for archive), opened at the Archivio di Stato in Venice last week, it marked a first not just for the artist, but for the venue itself. For the first time in history, the state archive opened its doors to the public as an exhibition space. The 13th century monastery building made an exception for Singh, given her long engagement with archives as living, evolving entities.

Archivio, which will run until August end during the Venice Biennale, brings together two strands of Singh’s work: Her sustained exploration of institutional archives, and a 25-year photographic engagement with Italy. Curated by Andrea Anastasio, director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New Delhi, history and people.

Anastasio’s association with Singh goes back over three decades. “I’ve known Dayanita since 1992,” he says, days before flying off to Venice. “Over the years, I’ve seen her work evolve, and I've also seen how Italy has been a recurring presence in her practice.”