New Delhi hosts a month-long multidisciplinary art showcase exploring themes of migration and identity
The city of Delhi is currently hosting a month-long exhibition titled Desh Pardesh – The Home and The World, curated by Myna Mukherjee. It brings together over 55 artists from across South Asia to explore themes of migration, home, identity, gender, race, and memory. The exhibition, which began on March 12 and will run until April 10, delves deep into the complexities of the concept of home, examining it through a diverse range of artistic mediums, including visual arts, design, film, and performance.
The exposition features both solo and group shows, including micro solos by individual artists, as well as collaborative projects. With participation from artists, designers, architects, and performers from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and beyond, Desh Pardesh paints a multifaceted portrait of the migration experience in the global South. Central to the exhibition is the notion of home – a concept that transcends geographical boundaries and is imbued with emotional, cultural, and political significance. By examining how the lived experiences of the Diaspora shape new identities and forge connections across borders, the exhibition challenges traditional distinctions between home and abroad.
The exhibition began with a preview at the Travancore Palace on March 12, featuring the group show Future Past Continuous, which highlighted installations and micro-solos from artists exploring the tension between tradition and innovation in the subcontinent. The works on display reflected the artists’ explorations of migration, land, and the notion of home, creating a powerful dialogue between the past and the present, tradition and transformation. The exhibition continued with a vernissage on March 19, which included a special performance by Nrityagram, a renowned Indian dance ensemble. The performance, SmritīRāngā, captured the essence of the Welsh word Hiraeth , which expresses a deep, almost spiritual yearning for a lost home, a feeling that intertwines both joy and sorrow. This performance explored how the absence of home is something that lingers in the soul, forever shaping one's identity and sense of belonging.
From March 20 to 23, the exhibition moved to Bikaner House, where micro solos and duos by different artists will be on display. These works reflect a range of materials, mediums, and dimensions, offering an intimate and diverse look into the creative practices of artists engaged with themes of migration, identity, and memory. On March 23, Desh Pardesh
From March 20 to 23, the exhibition moved to Bikaner House, where micro solos and duos by different artists will be on display. These works reflect a range of materials, mediums, and dimensions, offering an intimate and diverse look into the creative practices of artists engaged with themes of migration, identity, and memory. On March 23, Desh Pardesh
will shift to Stir Gallery, where three distinct shows will run concurrently: a solo exhibition by Ranbir Kaleka, a group show on Tech Art, and a Queer Art show. Kaleka’s solo work offers a visual exploration of contemporary narratives, while the Tech Art show incorporates the intersection of technology and creativity, and the Queer Art show delves into the connections between gender, sexuality, and identity, providing a platform for underrepresented voices in the art world.
In its entirety, Desh Pardesh is more than just an art exhibition; it is an exploration of how art can act as a bridge between the past and the present, the local and the global, helping to shape a new understanding of what it means to be at home in a world defined by constant change. Through its wide-ranging program of exhibitions, performances, and collaborations, the event offers a space for artists, thinkers, and audiences alike to reflect on the emotional and political dimensions of home, migration, and identity in the contemporary world.
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