Sangeeta Waddhwani, renowned journalist and former Executive Editor of HELLO! Magazine, unveiled her captivating artworks for the very first time at the Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery in Mumbai on 12th June, 2023. The exhibition, titled ‘Stories in Circles,’ showcased Waddhwani’s thought-provoking collection, emphasising on sustainable lifestyles and the impact of mobile phones and AI technology on humanity.
The opening night of the exhibition witnessed the presence of esteemed guests from various fields, including Nawaz Singhania, Pavan Anand, Aakif and Iram Habib of Atelier Habib, Rohit Verma, Arzan Khambatta, Vinod Advani, theatre doyenne Rael Padamsee, Malti Jain, Jalpa Vithalani and renowned jeweller Poonam Soni. Many other eminent art lovers are due to visit over the next five days.
Adding to the enchanting ambience of the evening, dance exponent Sandip Soparkar presented a mesmerizing Sufi whirling performance. Accompanied by Atul Wankhede on the mystical, soothing handpan drum, Soparkar’s performance resonated with the cosmic signature of circles and cycles, evoking a semi-trance experience among the attendees.
A much loved display was Sangeeta’s series, ‘The Mandroid and Selfina’ which presented the darker side of addiction to the Metaverse. Inspired by the exhibition ‘Future Shock’ in London, which showed automated cradles and exercise bodysuits that can enhance calories burned 10 times over, Sangeeta found this work leading to a lot of interesting insights, particularly what was shared by Nawaz Singhania, who is a mother and a fitness entrepreneur.
“The younger generation is not utilizing their true capacities, due to their dependence on mobile phones and technology. They are so technology dependent, that they don’t remember phone numbers or even multiplication tables like we did. If they lose their phones, they’d lose the plot!” Sangeeta agreed and pointed out that this was a global debate worldwide, whether a 20-year long formal academic life will be redundant when there is so much knowledge available!
Among the 20 inspiring artworks showcased at the exhibition, three stand out with their unique narratives:
THE LOTUS CONSCIOUSNESS (PANDEMIC SERIES): This artwork reflects the massive shift brought about by the Pandemic, symbolizing the reconciliation with nature as urban life came to a standstill. The depiction of the Buddha with lotus-like thoughts represents an inner shift that can easily revert back to consumerism, prompting contemplation on the cyclical nature of our actions.
WHAT TIME IS LOVE?: A TRIBUTE TO KARL LAGERFELD: This artwork pays a tongue-in-cheek homage to the late Karl Lagerfeld, the Creative Director of Chanel, who found beauty and modernity in black, white, and classic red. Through the rhetorical question “What Time is Love?” makes a sardonic statement as Karl had said India inspires him and dedicated the Bombay Metiers D’Art collection to Indian ideas in 2011, but didn’t show enough love to visit the country in his entire lifetime. It is only 12 years later that a brand like DIOR has acknowledged its debt to Indian design and craftswomen.
AN EYE FOR AN AI…: This composition delves into the prevalence of surveillance and the integration of AI into our lives. The seemingly benign eye symbolizes the loss of a value-based sense of direction as we cater endlessly to documenting the ephemeral. It also serves as a reminder of the constant surveillance we are subjected to, as AI apps increasingly shape our thoughts and suggestions based on our data footprint.
Artist Arzan Khambatta, who recycles materials to make highly witty ‘Scraptures’ shared his views on artists articulating ideas for Sustainable lifestyles. “Sangeeta has laid a lot of emphasis on sustainability, especially with the materials used in the paintings. There’s a lot of diversity in the artwork, right from Indian motifs as well as abstract paintings to international inspirations”, he says.
Sangeeta Wadhwani’s debut exhibition, ‘Stories in Circles,’ captured a lot of people’s imaginations. Says the artist, “Art has the power to transcend boundaries and spark conversations. With ‘Stories in Circles,’ I aim to provoke contemplation on a host of current preoccupations, from eco-sensitisation to tech, AI, globalisation, and the need to be wary of the all-pervasive Google Eye. Arzan said I am strong on concepts and ideas that need articulation, and I think that comes from my years as a wide-eyed journalist and magazine editor. I invite everyone to experience the narratives woven within the circular forms and join me in exploring the interconnectedness of our world,” she says.
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