"The exhibition contributes to the ongoing and increased act of collecting stories within the space of contemporary art production"
Since the beginning of time we’ve told stories through art. They become an important source of communication and in fact one can trace the trajectory of narrative art to understand how culture has evolved over the centuries. Storytelling is one of the most basic human tendencies. Earlier art was essentially narrative depicting stories from religion, mythology and legends, historical junctures and literature. Back then art became the signifier of power and patronage. With the rise of abstract art in the 20th century the narrative became marginalised. However, during the 90’s when artists felt the need to articulate the politics of identity and difference, they again invested in both abstract and representational forms with narrative content.
Today with the changing socio political landscape and the dominance of social media as the most powerful mode of communication, the dynamics of narration has changed. Seemingly every aspect of life is a potential subject for commentary or debate and the idea of personal space has diminished all together. The upside of this occurrence is that it created a democratic platform for sharing view points. Unscrupulous politics and transgressions can be challenged/confronted leading for a scope for amendment.
The exhibition contributes to the ongoing and increased act of collecting stories within the space of contemporary art production. It will examine how artists have devised new ways to update the age old quest of storytelling. These new narrative frames will highlight the roles that each of us play, both as authors and readers. The exhibition hopes to bring together paintings, sculptures, installations, photography, video and more.