The Grunwald Gallery at Indiana University is pleased to present Messengers, an exhibition of paintings, sculpture, and works on paper by internationally known artist Bharti Kher (b. 1969, London, UK). One of India’s most prominent contemporary artists, Bharti Kher uses the “medium” of traditional and sperm-shaped bindis in her practice, whether employed in swirling gestures on paper and paintings or in her large sculptural works. For Kher, the bindi—the traditional forehead dot worn by Hindu women—symbolizes a complex intersection of religious ritual, domesticity, commodity, and aesthetic beauty.
The exhibit will open on February 23 and continue through March 23, 2018. The artist will be present the week of February 20 and will be engaged in gallery talks and student critiques, and will present a public lecture on Friday, February 23. Bharti Kher’s visit to the Indiana University campus is part of “India Remixed: Arts and Humanities in Contemporary Indian Culture.” The global festival is sponsored by the Indiana University Bloomington’s Arts & Humanities Council.
The exhibition was made possible by the Arts & Humanities Council, the Grunwald Fund, and the School of Art, Architecture + Design at Indiana University. The exhibition and visit are also sponsored by Hauser & Wirth, London, Zürich.