Cracks and Folds

Landscapes of Southern Rajasthan

The Aravallis, one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world, emerged from tectonic activity when much of what is South Asia was an ocean. Cracks & Folds zooms in on the southernmost and tallest part of this range, an area that boasts an abundance of natural wonders, from rivers to mountains, forests to animals, and an array of rocks and minerals. Traces of mining reveal a history of human interaction with these resources spanning over 4000 years. 

This region has long been home to tribal communities and has seen its fair share of power struggles. The coat of arms of the former princely state of Mewar features a Rajput ruler and a tribal warrior flanking a shield with the image of its former capital, Chittor. Symptomatic of the complex relations between the represented groups, this insignia expresses a history of contestation and cooperation within the changing political dynamics of the subcontinent.

Set against this backdrop, the exhibition presents practices that respond to the ecological, cultural, pastoral, architectural, and industrial landscapes of Southern Rajasthan. The works in the show look at landforms that have developed over millennia alongside those that have resulted from human activities of the last few centuries. While some investigate extractive practices, others open portals into personal narratives embedded in folklore. Dyes made with native and invasive plants, accumulated trash, and references to actual and imagined ecologies take centre stage. Elephantine blocks of stone and fragments of architecture tie the built landscape to its geology.

Through this diverse and sometimes conflicting selection of practices, the show paints a variegated image of the region, capturing its many intricacies, harmonies, and paradoxes.

Abhijeet Karwa, June 2024