A month-long art exhibition in Kolkata on the idea of ​​land, in the era of nationalism

The month-long exhibition titled ‘Zameen’ (Land) is scheduled to open in Kolkata on Friday (January 9, 2026), in which current artists from across India will showcase their work on a theme that is more important today than ever in defining identity.

“Land holds deep cultural and emotional significance, underpinning identity, heritage and community ties. In many indigenous and pre-capitalist societies, land was held collectively, embedded in systems of reciprocity and management. With colonization, industrialization and capitalist expansion, it shifted from ownership, control to a shared sustainer,” curator Ina Puri said of the theme of the show, being held from January 9 to February 8 at the Birla Academy of Art and Culture here. And has become a speculative asset.”

“In line with this trend of history today there is a resurgence of divisive forces around the world, including in South Asia. Nationalist and majoritarian politics have heightened religious, ethnic and racial identities, and digital media and populist rhetoric have further polarized communities, eroding trust and solidarity. How does an artist, indeed art, respond to the crisis of weakened collective civic life? Perhaps, as the work in this show suggests, individualistic subjectivity and By focusing on the personal narrative that highlights the experience of such inequality,” Ms Puri said.

He felt that as a curator, it was important to focus not only on “landscapes of memory”, but also on contemporary artists documenting their lives and perspectives. The 11 participating artists include Vikrant Bhise, Shambhavi Singh, Birendra Yadav, Debashish Mukherjee, KR Sunil and late Zarina Hashmi.

Ms Puri said, “‘Zameen’ is symbolic – conceptually everyone’s land/roots/connections to land are different. When land is the root cause of conflict and violence globally today, ‘Zameen’ portrays the world in a universal way through the artist’s lens.”

Artist Debashish Mukherjee said that this exhibition is a symbol of artistic continuity, credibility and relevance within the Indian art ecosystem. “It brings together artists whose practices critically and sensitively engage with the politics of land. The works reflect land as a site of memory, struggle, belonging, labor and personal history. Through diverse artistic languages, the exhibition examines how land is claimed, transformed, remembered and contested on a collective and intimate, personal level.”