Exhibition Review: Someone Else by Shilpa Gupta

Arnolfini, Bristol

3 March 2012 - 22 April 2012

Image: Taken by myself at the exhibition, 'Singing Cloud' (2008-09)

After attending Sophy Rickett's 'To The River' exhibition on the ground floor I made my way up to Shilpa Gupta's 'Someone Else' consisting of five artworks spanning 7 years of work. I was particularly interested in her work especially her choice of medium using 3D art installation, typography and photography. Her work examines 'themes of desire, conflict, militarism, security, technology and censorship' [1] The varying pieces look at how the media affects us. Exploring the theme of media grabs my attention as am interested in the relationship between the two. 

As we enter the first room, 'Someone Else' one see's a metallic book shelf consisting of 100 silver 'blocks'. Only until one looks closer you realize that they are recreations of books from all over the world that have been written either anonymously or under a pseudonym. On the cover she explains why the author had chosen anonymity. I was engrossed in reading the reason and learnt a lot historically from this piece of art. Shame I didn't have enough time to read through all 100 of them! The second piece was the main attraction of the show, 'Singing Cloud', a suspended giant cloud made of 4000 microphones. She reversed the function of the microphone and its emits a soundtrack rather than used to record. I was very impressed with this art sculpture and gave an unsettling experience especially as the room was dark, one could just see the small reflections of light bouncing off the microphone heads. This room was shared with a flap-board used to announce departures so the echoes transmitted around the room in the shadows gave an eerie feel which I particularly enjoyed as a piece of art doesn't usually leave an unsettling effect on me. The penultimate piece were four photographs of her stylized in military clothing pinned to the wall that are part of a wider series 'Don't see Don't Hear Don't Speak'. She shows the effect of violence in today's society and makes the viewer think about today's current affairs. The final piece is brightly bold typographic piece entitled 'There is No Border Here' shaped in a flag. She explores the idea of borders and nationhood and as an Indian artist this piece feels like a reflection of her. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this exhibition as I didn't know what to expect moving from one room to the other and the atmosphere differentiated entirely creating a new buzz every time. I enjoyed the diversity exhibited and hope to see more of her exhibitions in the future.

References:

1. Exhibition Guide document - Arnolfini, Shilpa Gupta, Someone Else

Useful Links:

Arnolfini - Shilpa Gupta http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/whatson/exhibitions/details/1234

Shilpa Gupta http://www.flyinthe.net/

More of my photos from the exhibition:

 'Someone Else' (2011-12)

'Someone Else' (2011-12)

'Someone Else' (2012-12)

'Untitled' (2008-09)

'Untitled' (2006)

'There is No Border Here' (2005-06)

'There is No Border Here' (2005-06)