Arboretum – Ebb and Flow
Nature Morte, Mumbai opens its gate for duo Thukral & Tagra’s new painting collection titled ‘Arboretum – Ebb and Flow.’ Their artworks respond to the relationship between the real and the digital world. The exhibition will open on Thursday, August 29, 2024, from 6 PM to 8 PM. The paintings will be on view till 12th October.
Departing from the premise of the Arboretum that emerged during the pandemic, the second edition engages with the cultural history of trees. From Kashmir to Japan, Arboretum – Ebb and Flow maps the recent journeys of the artist-duo through hyper-realistic and intensely detailed painterly effects and unconventional shapes of the canvas.
Reflecting on this multi-year journey, the duo notes, “The cycle of the Arboretum has shifted within us. From being sites of contemplation, we started seeing trees as cultural artefacts that witness the social and political transitions of the world. The works in this exhibition draw inspiration from diverse landscapes, relaying stories on conflict, grounding the self, and the idea of home. The chinar trees of Kashmir, the peaceful landscapes of Japan, and the sense of belonging in Gurgaon (where we live) seeped into the creation of this series. This exhibition is a process of retelling stories through the trees that stay in us.”
About Thukral & Tagra
Thukral & Tagra are a Delhi-based artist duo comprising Jiten Thukral (b. 1976, Jalandhar, Punjab) and Sumir Tagra (b. 1979, New Delhi). Driven by the artistic methodologies of painting, gaming, archiving, and publishing, their multifaceted studio practice reflects the scope of engagement in the cultural and political landscape of India and the world. While their early career work dealt with the intricacies of consumer culture globally, their recent interest in ecology and climate change is a revisiting of their family histories of migration and farming in the Indian state of Punjab.
A solo show of their paintings Arboretum will open at the SCAD Museum of Art in Savannah, Georgia, USA on September 26th, and they will curate the visual arts section at the upcoming edition of the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa in December of this year.
Image Courtesy – Nature Morte
