‘Interwoven Ecosystems’ Art Exhibition: Exploring Climate and Ecology Through Art

From August 3-10, 2024, the “Interwoven Ecosystems” exhibition at the American Center New Delhi, organized jointly by American Center New Delhi, Anant Art, and the Mittal Institute, brought ecological networks and climate migration to life through art. The exhibition, launched on August 02, 2024, showcased the work of artists Dhara Mehrotra and Paribartana Mohanty – each offering unique perspectives shaped by their diverse backgrounds in art, patronage, ecological research, and well-being. Both artists are alumni of the Mittal Institute’s Visiting Artist Fellowship (VAF) program.

Bridging Science and Emotion Through Art

The launch of the exhibition was marked a moderated conversation by Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director of the Mittal Institute. Kathleen Fox, Regional Public Engagement Specialist, South Asia, U.S. Embassy, emphasized the role of art in making complex environmental issues emotionally accessible. In her remarks, Radhika Chopra, a member of the Mittal Institute’s Arts Advisory Council, described art as a bridge to understanding, transcending cultural barriers to inspire action.

From left to right: Vishal Khandelwal, Radhika Chopra, Kathleen Fox, Dhara Mehrotra, Paribartana Mohanty, and Hitesh Hathi.

Dhara’s exploration of mycelium networks reflected upon the interconnected vital ecosystems and possible interactions between them that sustain the fabric of all life. “At the intersection of art and science, my work explores patterns in how nature organizes itself. I improvise on the form, structure, and topology of mycelium networks under the soil, focusing on the parallels between the known and unknown aspects of deep landscapes. Mycelium, alongside other microorganisms, enriches the soil environment,” explained Dhara at the opening ceremony.

Left: Dhara Mehrotra conducting a walkthrough at the launch. Right: Dhara’s artwork titled ‘Coalesced.’

Paribartana’s lenticular prints, meanwhile, documented Odisha’s recurring environmental disasters and the displacement of climate migrants. While talking about his work, Paribartana explained, “This series entitled ‘A Fate’s Brief Memoir‘ investigates the nature of these transits and temporal registers, documenting the traces coastal fishers and farmers leave behind as climate migrants. The lenticular prints create a back-and-forth movement between disaster sites and temporary shelters, encouraging viewers to shift perspectives for clarity. It condenses overwhelming migration stories into micro-events, placing before-and-after images of disasters on the same surface.”

Left: Paribartana Mohanty conducting a walkthrough at the launch. Right: Paribartana’s artwork titled ‘A Fate’s Brief Memoir – Print 2.’

Artistic Walkthrough: Engaging with the Audience

Post-launch, the artists engaged in a conversation with Vishal Khandelwal, Assistant Professor of History of Art and Architecture, Harvard University, and the audience as they took the attendees on a walkthrough.

“Through their diverse practices, Dhara and Paribartana showed us life beneath the surface of images. The rigorous research that underwrites these works relays biological and cultural narratives via their subject matter and themes. Encountering the works in person, however, brings to mind many other connections. While some of Dhara’s works made me think of scientific images and their relationship to ideas of aesthetic immersion and the sublime (and a colleague, Jennifer Roberts, also offers classes at Harvard on the topic of art and science), Paribartana’s prints invite us to consider how we perceive the same thing differently when looking across scales. These ideas remain vital as humans continue to evaluate their contract with the earth and with outer space,” said Vishal while talking about his experience at the exhibition.

Left: Dhara Mehrotra with Mamta Singhania, Founder-Director of Anant Art Gallery. Center photo, from left to right: Radhika Chopra, member of the Mittal Institute’s Arts Advisory Councill; Tariq Allana, Associate Director of Art Heritage; Atul Bhalla, Visual Artist and Professor of Visual Arts at Shiv Nadar University; Manuela Ciotti, Professor of Social and Cultural Anthropology of the Global South at the University of Vienna; and Hitesh Hathi, Executive Director of the Mittal Institute. Right: Radhika Chopra (center left); Siddharth Kak (center right), Indian documentary maker and television producer; with the Mittal Institute Delhi office team.

Art as a Medium for Ecological Consciousness

The art on display at the exhibit exemplified the fragility and resilience of ecosystems and communities in the face of environmental challenges, emphasizing the critical link between environmental well-being and human well-being.

In an era marked by environmental challenges and heightened ecological consciousness, it is imperative to engage in dialogues that deepen our understanding of human beings’ relationship with the nature. The exhibition, a powerful fusion of art and environmental science, provided a poignant reminder of the interwoven nature of ecosystems and the communities that rely on them.