Presented by NAU Foundation, Khoj is delighted to host Sentience of Small Beings, an exhibition that brings together 18 ceramic and printmaking artists from across the world to explore the world of insects and the vital role they play in sustaining life. Emerging from NAU’s art and ecology programme, the works invite a closer look at the beings that shape our ecosystems.
Artist Curators: Kavita Shah & Falguni Bhatt
Artists: Aninda Singh, Falguni Bhatt, Garima Tripathi, Hina Bhatt Kavita Pandya Ganguly, Nehal Rachh, Ruddhi Vichare, Shampa Shah,Shirley Bhatnagar, Anil Majmudar, Anita Jung, Eunkang Koh, Kate Gorringe-Smith, Oli Ghosh, Satyanarayana Gavara, Sabine Delahaut, Sylvia Taylor, and Tanuja Rane.
Curatorial Note
E.O. Wilson
If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed 10,000 years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.
The omnipresence of insects exceeds any other creature on the planet. The Climatically diverse geographies find these small beings as residents. Insects are a fundamental species to complex ecosystems; sustaining varied functions like pollination, biological pest control and are sensitive indicators of stream and soil health.They serve as the foundational elements of ecological food webs in agricultural, natural, and urban environments, shaping the heterogeneity of these landscapes.
They can swarm, like gnats in a field; they can gravitate, like flies; they can be drawn to particular occurrences, like moths to the flame; and they can build structures, like bees build their hives. The particular movements and forms of congregations have often served as inspiration for design in civilisation.The sophisticated design of the structures insects build have evolved over sanctuaries, and are of deep inquisitiveness due to their robustness and constructional expertise.
The mystical nature of these small creatures hold secrets to years of evolution and have inspired mankind to interact with each other in a deeply complex manner. Their behaviours provide rich insights into neural and behavioural algorithms underlying both solitary and collective building processes.The exploration of these behaviours inform a large philosophical understanding of the world, making one aware of the magnitude the smallness holds.
The Sentience of Small Beings investigates Insects as a subject of study encompassing cultural, ecological, creative dimensions with scientific backing. Recognising the importance of insect ecosystems and implementing strategies for their conservation is imperative for safeguarding ecosystem resilience, food security, and biodiversity in the face of global environmental challenges.
The exhibition opens on April 24 at 5:30 pm and will be on view at Khoj Studios, New Delhi from April 25 – April 30, 11 am to 6:30 pm.
The opening will be followed by a walkthrough and the talk “Ingest and Growth” by Rashmi Kaleka at 6 pm.