Beginning with the declaration of the Emergency by Indira Gandhi, which saw the country descend into communal politics and violence and then emerged on the other side with a liberalised economy and nuclear powerhouse, to make a significant mark in the new world order. This tempestuous time became a fertile ground for artists to shape the distinctive artistic scene of the country, combining social observation with individual expression and innovation.

The Barbican, in collaboration with KNMA, will present ‘The Imaginary Institution of India: Art 1975-1998’, the world’s first major exhibition of Indian art from this period of incredible change and upheaval in the country. Featuring nearly 150 works spanning painting, photography, sculpture, films and installations, the exhibition offers a journey into the intimate lives and reflections of the 30 artists through the last quarter of the 20th century. A specially curated film season, ‘Rewriting the Rules: Pioneering Indian Cinema after 1970’, runs alongside the exhibition.

Ideals around freedom of speech, non-violence, communal identity, religion and more personal ones relating to love, family, and friendship became ingrained in the social consciousness of this period. The exhibition is laid out loosely in a chronological manner across two floors of the gallery, which takes the audience on an immersive journey of a tumultuous time. It is shaped by four axes: the rise of communal violence; gender and sexuality; urbanisation and shifting class structures; and a growing connection with indigenous and vernacular practices.

Most artists have multiple works displayed that demonstrate their artistic evolution through their careers. The shift from still media like paintings and sculptures towards newer mediums like film and motion arts also shows the real-time transformation of art and aesthetic sensibilities in tandem with the transforming urban landscape of India.