Inked Worlds, a Two artist show by Kanika Shah and Cherring Negi
APRE Art House x KCH
Venue: Kathiwada City House, Worli
On Till: 22nd Oct.
This exhibition presents a nuanced dialogue between the works of Chhering Negi and Kanika Shah, two printmakers whose artistic practices rigorously engage with the intersecting themes of surroundings, survival, identity, and environmental consciousness. Negi’s practice is deeply informed by the socio-ecological realities of the Spiti region, where the harsh landscape and extreme climatic conditions necessitate a resilient existence. His use of cacti as a recurring motif serves as a potent metaphor for endurance, encapsulating the continuous struggle against environmental and climatic adversities. The muted color palette and region-specific imagery employed by Negi not only evoke the stark realities of life but also underscore the delicate balance between survival and adaptation.
Kanika Shah’s vibrant and complex body of work engages with the evolving constructs of personal and female identity, particularly within the context of nature’s transformative cycles. Through her dynamic woodcut prints, Shah establishes a compelling parallel between the natural world and the female form, utilizing a rich palette of colors and intricate textures to explore themes of belonging, resilience, and metamorphosis. The recurring motifs of cacti and bougainvillea, which emerged in her practice during the isolation of the pandemic, articulate a narrative of endurance and adaptability, reflecting the symbiotic relationship between nature and the self. Shah’s work, thus, becomes a site for exploring the intersection of gender, environment, and identity, offering a rich, layered commentary on the human condition.
Negi’s engagement with the harsh Spiti landscape and Shah’s exploration of the female body through nature can be seen as reflections of how their bodies interact with, and are shaped by, their surroundings.
Text by Prerna SM Jain
