Fridget, Vidhi Vora (left). It is an open question by Natacha Voliakovsky (right). 31 May. Photo: Lasse Mouritzen
Why binary should have all the pun
Tifa Working Studies, Pune, May-June, 2019. Co-curated with Kaur Chimuk
Our world is brought to us through categorised understandings, binary ideas and normative fields of action, suggesting dichotomies of good and bad, black and white, West and East, masculine and feminine, civilised and barbaric, and the list goes on. From this point the binary has become part of the human navigation system from where we make up our mind; it guides our daily discussion-making, socio-political behaviour and judgement, and it makes us more capable of thinking and acting in complex situations. We try to segregate what we perceive as right from wrong and form our preferences, public appearance, taste and belonging. Beliefs and actions are structured in order to become a good citizen, a loving partner or an emphatic friend, among many several roles, so that we are able to express presence, authenticism, sensitivity and care.
In these moments, we inevitably construct notions of evil, lies, distance and otherness. As noted by the French writer, André Gide “the colour of truth is grey,” an essential reminder that we need to seek the in-between of our prime categories of understanding and practice. Why binary should have all the pun endeavours to look between the black and the white and re-map the journey to between the known and the unknown from where the binary is brought into reconsideration by turning to multiple processes of in-betweenness. Exploring how doubts, ambiguity and process are approached through contemporary art practices, we want to open up new meanings, expressions and possibilities in-between societal binaries. Through investigations of public/private spaces, identity and gender roles, sociality and materiality, the exhibition aspires to bring in a non-identical rizomatic exploration of daily life and society. In-between becomes a methodology of confusion, blurring and re-evaluating popular categorisations whilst questioning and problematising notions of post-colonialism, neo-orientalism and global aspirations. We believe that the greatest riots and emphatic gestures are acts confronting the binaries - forming new possibilities in-between. But how will the narrative of reality be constructed inbetween the categories of understanding and acting? This show is a cross-disciplinary curation on contemporary artistic perspectives on binaries and how to open up more abstract, processual and performative understandings and actions inbetween. It offers a re-investigation of various dichotomies of individual and collective experimentation processes, approaching new possibilities of mobilities, democracy and resistance in-between. In the exhibition, we ask how artistic methodologies can create confusion between categorised spaces, cultures, socio-political behaviours, and add new sensitive, personal and collective ideas into and beyond the socio-political and cultural context of Pune and India.
Artist taking part in the program and exhibition
Poonam Jain | India
Tamara De Laval | Sweden
Marko Cesarec | Sweden
Rhine Bernardino | UK/Philippines
Hediyeh Azma | Iran/Norway
Sumedha Bhattacharyyaa | India
Saviya Lopes | India
Yogesh Barve | India
Julian Toldam Juhlin | Denmark
Prabhakar Pachpute | India
Avon Bashida | Denmark/USA
Sabitha Sofia Söderholm | India/Denmark
Keepa Masky | Nepal
Afshana S. Zuma | Bangladesh
Taxi - Suman S. and Sourav R.C. | India
Nikhil Raunak | India
Arijit Bhattacharya & Balaram Koley | India
Rupali Patil | India
Amol K Patil | India
Natacha Voliakovsky | Argentina
Sayli Kulkarni Joshi & Vidhi Vora | India


Walking around in helmet, Performance by Sumedha Bhattacharyya, 29 May. Photo: Lasse Mouritzen
Program
Where method becomes a dialogue in-between contemporary art and society
The program is an investigation of how we can understand different art practices as important socio-political contributions and tools on how to navigate, experience, reflect and explore the binaries of our everyday life, society and global world. The program brings together International and local Indian artist working in different fields of artistic expressions ranging from fine arts, painting, sculpturing, text/literature, scenography, theatre, performance, dance and video art. With the broad range of mediums and approaches to the theme we wish to bring focus and emphasis on the importance of what lies in-between, for example in the way we look, understand and navigate in the world. What is in between the West and the East? And why is it important to understand the process, ambivalence, nuances or becoming rather than the two fixed opposites? Art practice and the process of developing a creative methodology is linked to the exploration of who where are, where we are from and where we are longing to go.
The program was 20 days long and consisted of different workshops and performances with both local and international artists which gave artist and locals a possibility to share, learn and exchange in an informal and new settings. Among others there was a body-movement workshop with local dancer and choreographer Sayli Kulkarni, an urban exploration of public hidden art with Swedish artist Marko Celsarec, an introduction and performance of classical music pedagogy by Pune musician Anupam Joshi, drawing workshop for kids and performances by Julian Juhlin from Denmark, Sumedha Bhattacharyya from India, Sutradhar India, Afsana S. Zumpa from Bangladesh.

Virgin Tour, Performance by Julian Toldam Juhlin, 28 May. Photo: Lasse Mouritzen



Presentations and exchange at Rupali Patil and Prabhakar Pachpute Studio, Pune. 25 May, 2019

Presentations and exchange at Rupali Patil and Prabhakar Pachpute Studio, Pune. 25 May, 2019

Grey Fantasies, performance by Sayli Kulkarni Joshi, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 22 May, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

In Between Bed and Tub, performance by Afsana S. Zumpa, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 31 May, 2019. Photo Marko Cesarec
In Between Bed and Tub, performance by Afsana S. Zumbi, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 31 May, 2019. Photo Marko Cesarec

Anonymous by Afsana S. Zumpa, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. May, 2019. Photo Marko Cesarec
Anonymous by Afsana S. Zumpa, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. May, 2019. Photo Marko Cesarec

Art Circulation by Poonam Jain, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 31 May - 2 June, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen
Art Circulation by Poonam Jain, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 31 May - 2 June, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Art Circulation by Poonam Jain, Tifa Working Studios, Pune. 31 May - 2 June, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen
Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen
Peep In by Amol Patil, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen


Social Construct by Saviya Lopes, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Lasse Mouritzen

Social Construct by Saviya Lopes, Tifa Working Studios, Pune, 2019. Photo Marko Cesarec
