Mumbai’s cultural landscape is set to ignite with vibrant hues and thought-provoking abstraction as young artist Prithveer Jain debuts his captivating collection, Prism: What Goes Around. Hosted at the Ice Factory at Ballard Estate (IFBE), the exhibit will run from April 2 to April 7, 2024. The grand opening is set to happen on April 2 from 3 PM to 7 PM. The exhibition will be open for visitors from 10 AM- 7 PM on all 6 days.
Prism: What Goes Around” is a series of artworks that signify the artistic liberation and uninhibited expression of a young artist. The general abstract nature of these works coupled with the bold strokes and the vibrant colours transcend traditional artistic grammar and embody the carefree and experimental spirit that is often only afforded to the youth. The layers beneath each piece not only pay homage to the basic human instinct to err but also highlight a deep resonance with a sense of spontaneity and authenticity. Each artwork is allowed the freedom to unfold as per its own creative destiny wherein even the artist is not entirely aware of the end result until it presents itself to him.
Metaphorically speaking, the prism serves as a powerful symbol within the exhibition acting almost as a bridge that links all the artworks together. On one hand, a prism refracts light into its constituent colours while on the other, it can also be seen as inversely assimilating the myriad hues of the rainbow into a singular stream of white light. Similarly, some of the artworks deconstruct everyday objects and themes, rendering them unrecognisable except for their essence, while the others combine the most vibrant hues to create rather distinct images. Ultimately, the prismatic breakdown of a single artwork reveals far more than its underlying shades. It unravels the intricate tapestry of emotions, inspirations, and experiences woven by the artist with each thread contributing to the rich mosaic of the creative process. Through this kaleidoscopic perspective, the artwork transcends its physical form and serves more like a “memory box” containing traces of who the artist was and what he was going through at the time of its creation.
In essence, the works question the conventional idea of what it means to be original by highlighting the interconnectedness of human experiences and the fluid nature of inspiration. The subtitle of the exhibition— “What Goes Around” is a subtle nod to the eclectic blend of influences around us that consciously or unconsciously shape our individual identities.
The Ice Factory at Ballard Estate (IFBE), where Prithveer would host his debut art show, is an experimental laboratory for transdisciplinary work across modern and contemporary architecture, art, design and pedagogy. The conserved and refashioned structure, situated in one of Bombay’s oldest dockyards, is itself an historical object. With it Malik Architecture has created a centre that does not settle, one with spaces to breathe through a crystallisation of traditional, modern, and contemporary praxes. Experimental architecture and art exhibition interact with pedagogical programming and open discursive atmospheres, nurturing a space of potentiality.