Hailing from the bustling city of Indore, with an academic journey that carved itself through Mumbai’s art scene to finally setting roots in Bengaluru, Pragati Dalvi Jain, an astute artist, is set to unveil her profound solo show, “Shapes of Unseen Voices”, starting March 2. Entwined in the cultural tapestry of her new hometown, Pragati has spent over a decade intricately exploring and capturing the essence of women and their empowerment, emphasizing the common yet overlooked narratives of domestic help.
“The show delves into the perspectives of how women across different generations perceive domestic workers in India. Are they acknowledged, ignored, or do they simply exist in a nebulous interspace?” Pragati poses this potent question, underlining the fundamental theme of her exhibition. For her, it is the routine invisibility of these women that sparks a conversation about selective attention and the societal disconnect barring the employer-employee dynamic.
At the age of 39, Pragati’s educational foundations, a Bachelor and Master in Fine Arts Painting completed in 2007 and 2009 respectively from Mumbai’s esteemed Sir JJ School of Art, set a strong academic prelude to her vibrant career. Over the years, she has threaded her creative voice through various solo and group exhibitions both within and outside India, extending a dialogue through her artworks globally. Her insights were further honed with a visiting artist fellowship at Harvard University, Cambridge in 2020-21, and an enriching stint at the Marina Abramovic Institute Greece for a performance workshop in August 2022.
“Shapes of Unseen Voices” is an eclectic mix—a multidisciplinary array of conceptual and performative photographs, sculptures, video installations, a live performance, and paintings reflecting Pragati’s versatile approach to her art. As an observer, she scrutinizes the expressions and postures of individuals in both public and private realms, translating ephemeral emotions and intangible nuances into tangible artworks.
Nalini S Malaviya, the curator of the exhibition, has handpicked thought-provoking pieces, including ‘Can’t Remember Love,’ an immersive performance that probes deep into the emotion of love with its intricate layers, complexities, and the spectrum ranging from its reciprocation to outright rejection. Pragati arrests audiences with a mannequin interplay, delving into the profundity of expectations and the sting of disregard, which collectively paint the multifaceted nature of human relationships.
The exhibition heralds its beginning with ‘The Chase’, a metaphoric performance piece crafted in partnership with Jayshree Poddar, a senior textile designer. The performance conjures up a visual narrative of two individuals traversing an infinite loop in opposing directions, each at their own pace. With Poddar at 67, this expression leaves viewers in a lurch, contemplating whether it’s a chase for lost youth or a quest for accrued wisdom. Such performances, Pragati elucidates, transcend the conventional bounds of performing arts, wherein the unpredictability of both the display and observer reactions reflects life’s inherent uncertainties.
Curiosity, engagement, interaction—these are the elements Pragati believes to forge a true connection in performance art; she may envision the inception but never premeditates the conclusion, allowing for an authentic and spontaneous experience for both artist and audience.
“Shapes of Unseen Voices” stands as a space for contemplation, interaction, and perhaps most importantly, realization, at the Chitrakala Parishat in Bengaluru. Running from March 2 to March 6, between 11am to 7pm, the exhibition invites individuals from all walks of life to introspect and reinterpret their views on the often-unseen stratum of society—the women who maneuver within the shadows of our spaces, shaping the daily rhythms of life yet remaining on the periphery of societal acknowledgment.
