A Delhi exhibit explores philosophical contrasts

The Lexicon Art presented Dvaita (द्वैत): Dualities, an exhibition that explored the philosophical concept of dualism through a dynamic curation of opposites, opening on April 18, 2026, at its Connaught Place gallery. Conceived and curated by Ankon Mitra, the show examined a spectrum of contrasts—black and white, gold and silver, blue and red, shiny and rough, geometric precision and amorphous fluidity, heaviness and lightness, as well as material juxtapositions such as canvas and steel, wall and ceiling. Through this interplay, the exhibition sought to reveal how the complexity of opposites ultimately resolves into Advaita (अद्वैत)—a state of oneness.

The opening evening was attended by eminent poet, fiction writer and art critic Prayag Shukla, and Dr. Rashmi Singh, Secretary of NDMC, as special guests. Guests included Uma Nair (Art critic & curator), Neelam Pratap Rudy, Artist Manoj Arora, Artist Divyaman Singh, Dr. Rennie Joyy, Parul Mahajan, Radhika Manocha and many more graced the evening with their presence.

Featuring eleven artists—Ankon Mitra, Divyendu Anand, Keshari Nandan, Meenakshi Jha Banerjee, Naman Mahipal, Neerja Chandna Peters, Nimesh Patel, Pratap Chandra Chakraborty, Shalini Mithal, Shovin Bhattacharjee, and Vinod Daroz—the exhibition presents a diverse body of work spanning paintings, sculptures, installations, and murals. The gallery space itself has been designed as an immersive environment, embodying a choreography of dualities where works converse across mediums and forms.

Mamta Nath, Founder-Director of The Lexicon Art, noted that Dvaita (द्वैत): Dualities draws deeply from the lived reality of India, where contrasts coexist seamlessly. She reflected on how urban and social landscapes—where mansions stand beside slums, gulmohar-lined avenues meet broken pavements, and humans share roads with animals—form a complex but harmonious order. Rejecting the sterility of the conventional white cube gallery, the exhibition embraces this layered reality, allowing artworks to clash and coalesce across surfaces, ultimately guiding viewers toward a sense of unity and synthesis.

Curator Ankon Mitra, whose practice spans architecture, landscape design, sculpture, and installation, described the exhibition as the culmination of a four-year curatorial journey. Drawing parallels with the mosaic of Indian life, he highlighted how dualities—from maximalism and minimalism to wealth and poverty, chaos and order—are not contradictions but essential forces that shape meaning. The exhibition reflects Eastern philosophical traditions where opposites are interdependent, inviting viewers to experience and internalise these tensions rather than resolve them prematurely.

At its core, Dvaita (द्वैत): Dualities challenges the conventional modes of viewing art. Moving away from isolated displays, it recreates the density and simultaneity of the real world, particularly the Indian context, where contrasts exist in constant dialogue. The exhibition encourages viewers to navigate resonance and dissonance, ultimately arriving at a moment of clarity—an ‘aha’ experience—where dualities dissolve into a cohesive whole. The exhibition will remain open to the public until May 18

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