Download Press Release (PDF 37 K)
September 2004 New York - Utilizing contemporary electronic media and traditional paint-based techniques,
Nalini Malani'swork often illustrates the lives of those that have been ignored, forgotten or marginalized by history. Her pieces reflect a deep commitment to women's issues, particularly with regard to those dense areas of social and familial relationships in which women's skills often go unappreciated. Malani's recent work also communicates unsparing criticism of groups who impose and propagate fundamentalist beliefs.
In Game Pieces, which was originally installed in 2003 in a 6th-Century cavern at the Istanbul Biennale, Nalini Malani constructs new and dramatic ways of story telling. The narrative makes repeated references to iconography from both Indian and European mythology. The combination of video and audio elements, coupled with reverse paintings on revolving reflective cylinders, creates a cinematic atmosphere of floating ethereal shadows of luminosity and scale.
Malani's video and sound installation, Unity in Diversity is a response to the 2002 attacks against the Muslim community in Gujarat, India. The piece includes imagery based on A Galaxy of Musicians by 19th Century painter Ravi Varma and current portraits of Indian women from different ethnic backgrounds. In 1893, Varma's painting was simultaneously exhibited at the World Congress of Religions where Hindu philosopher, Swami Vivekananda spoke of 'the danger of orthodoxy in religion.' Ms. Malani's work becomes a timely and global warning of the acceleration of violence between fundamentalist religious groups.
In addition, Bose Pacia debuts a series of new paintings by the artist. Included is Sita-Medea , a six foot triptych which further explores Malani's interest in story-telling; coalescing characters that weave together tales of myth and veracity, of longing, grief and revenge.
Trained as a painter, Nalini Malani received her Fine Arts diploma from Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay. Her work has been acclaimed and exhibited internationally. Recent exhibitions include the 8th Istanbul Biennale (2003); 20th World Wide Video Festival, Amsterdam (2003); New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York (2003); Asia Pacific Triennale, Brisbane (2002-03); Tate Modern, London (2001); Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan (2000); Kwangu Biennale, South Korea (2000).