Connaught Place: A powerhouse of political and cultural production

Taking inspiration and fostering the spirit of Connaught Place, The Past has a Home in the Future exhibition, curated by Jackfruit Research and Design at the Dhoomimal Gallery showcased Connaught Place as the powerhouse for politics and cultural production. Running from November 7 to December 7, 2024, this exhibition blended the essence of the place and its enduring creative discourse, ensuring to offer a synchronic and diachronic narrative of the place and people, particularly through the tale of the host gallery.

Structured in three consecutive sections, with archival imagery and artworks, and specially commissioned projects in textiles, ceramics, visual arts and sound, the exhibition rejoiced the spirit and bond that artists, designers, and the people of Connaught Place embraced through DMG and other institutions.

The show also organised two engaging talks, 'An Architect Working in Connaught Place' by Architect AGK Menon and 'Tehbazari Futures' by Kruti Shah and Sebastian Trujillo-Torres from Chaal Chaal Agency. Guests including Artist Seema Kohli,Former Judge of Supreme Court Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Artist Nupur Kundu, Art Curator and Critic Jyoti Kathpalia, Artist Samar Jodha, Actress Nisha Singh, and Writer and Craft Activist Laila Tyabji graced the exhibition.

"The Dhoomimal Gallery has been a centre for dialogue and artistic exchange," said Uday Jain, director of the gallery, "This exhibition highlighted Connaught Place as a powerhouse of political and cultural production by combining its spirit with its innovative discourse.”

Featuring the archival works from various institutions, including Mahatta & Co., Pablo and Richard Bartholomew, Alkazi Foundation for the Arts, Riten Mozumdar, and SL Parasher, alongside contemporary designers, the exhibition displayed the reminiscence of CP in a creative manner.

Those participating in the show include Puneet Brar, Rema Kumar, Pooja Saxena, KP Reji and Guild Art, Chaal Chaal Agency, Anwar Chitrakar, Anandit Sachdev, Dhruv Vaish, Veda Raheja, Salwans, Rikhi Ram, Chatterjee & Lal + Ushmita Sahu, Gagan Singh + Chatterjee & Lal.