Abirpothi

Anita Dube’s ‘Three Storey House’ Opens at Vadehra Art Gallery

Taking over all three floors of the gallery, this expansive exhibition features three recent bodies of work that include sculptures, mixed media pieces, and a kinetic installation.

Vadehra Art Gallery is pleased to present तिमंजला घर: Three Storey House, a solo exhibition by Delhi-based artist Anita Dube. The exhibition opened at the gallery’s D-53 Defence Colony space on 15 March 2025 and will remain on view until 19 April 2025.

A Multi-Level Showcase of Artistic Exploration

Anita dube multi storey mixed media installations
After Nelson Mandela
66 x 54 In
2023
Image Courtesy- Vadehra Art Gallery

Dube’s conceptual practice delves into the biopolitical nature of identity, frequently using text, poetry, and symbolism to evoke resistance and engagement with the world. Her work explores themes of power, memory, mythology, and phenomenology through the lens of the ‘gaze,’ often blending politics with personal reflection. Known for her distinctive assemblage techniques, Dube incorporates found objects, velvet fabrics, and votive eyes in her creations—engaging with colour’s sensuality to provoke visual pleasure and reflection.

The Concept Behind Three Storey House

In Anita Dube’s own words:

The exhibition Three Storey House uses the conventional [architecture] structure of a house to chart out a conceptual/philosophical movement rising upwards from the base – along a pathway of pleasure and pedagogy to ascend to a meditative sublime celebration of love in all its wondrous hues. The movement is also an ascent from black-and-white towards a pure sensuality of colour; from the cacophony of dirty politics to the heraldic grandeur of flags and banners, and onto a pared-down simplicity of materiality and abstraction.

The exhibition reflects her ongoing artistic concerns—politics, pedagogy, pleasure, and personal experiences—particularly shaped by the prolonged COVID-19 experience. Dube’s works span themes of isolation, desire, and social critique. The timeline within Three Storey House moves from a deep interior reflection during the pandemic to an energetic exploration of Eros as an antidote to Thanatos. The exhibition culminates in a conceptual “Animal Farm” scene, symbolizing power structures, individualism, and societal aspirations.

Fabric installations and Anita Dube in her solo exhibition with vadehra art gallery
Untitled
Fabric, glue and plywood
21 x 20.75 in
2023
Image Courtesy- Vadehra Art Gallery

About the Artist

Anita Dube with BMW artist film
Artists Photograph, Anita Dube
Image Courtesy- Youtube.com

Anita Dube was born in 1958 in Lucknow, India. She completed her bachelor’s degree in History from Delhi University in 1979 and pursued her master’s in visual arts with a major in art criticism at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, in 1982. Dube notably curated the 2018 Kochi–Muziris Biennale in India.

Her work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Barbican Centre, London (2024) in The Imaginary Institution of India, curated by Shanay Jhaveri. Her solo exhibitions include presentations at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi (2023); Nature Morte, New Delhi (2014); Lakeeren Gallery, Mumbai (2013) and more

Dube’s recent group exhibitions include shows at Art Heritage, New Delhi (2023); Lakeeren Gallery, Mumbai (2023). Her international presence includes exhibitions at Aicon Gallery, New York (2021).

Anita Dube with Vadehra Art Gallery
Untitled
Fabric, glue and plywood
19 x 19 in
2023
Image Courtesy- Vadehra Art Gallery

About Vadehra Art Gallery

Founded in 1987, Vadehra Art Gallery has been a prominent advocate for South Asian art, representing artists across four generations. The gallery’s commitment to fostering cultural expression has made it a cornerstone of the Indian art ecosystem, serving as a bridge between tradition and contemporary creativity.

The gallery has championed modern masters such as M.F. Husain, Ram Kumar, S.H. Raza, and Tyeb Mehta, while also promoting post-modernists like Arpita Singh, A. Ramachandran, and Nalini Malani. The contemporary roster includes influential figures such as Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, Anju Dodiya, and Gauri Gill, alongside emerging talents like Zaam Arif, Biraaj Dodiya, and Ashfika Rahman.

With two prominent gallery spaces in New Delhi, Vadehra Art Gallery hosts regular exhibitions, talks, and workshops while maintaining an active digital presence. The gallery also participates in leading global art fairs such as Frieze and Art Basel.

Vadehra Art Gallery’s publishing arm, established in 1996, has been pivotal in documenting South Asian art history through collaborations with publishers like Penguin, Prestel, and König, contributing significantly to the growing archive of Indian contemporary art

Feature Image courtesy- Vadehra Art Gallery, Old Zebra (Disappeared Poem), Anita Dube.