When colours define borders

The Reunion Island in France is indeed a unique place! A
fragment of Europe, it is situated at a crossroad where multi communities like the Chinese, Indians, African and French have made this place their home. Also, the landscape of the place is rather vivid, the sea is highly volatile and so is the volcanic
mountain which erupts once in a while.

And sharing the experience of living in this place are eleven artists from this island who are going to portray their experiences on canvas in Mumbai. This travel show is coming to Mumbai at Sakshi Gallery from February 6, after travelling to Chennai and
Delhi.

The curator of the show Francine Meoule says, “Many people from Tamil Nadu and Gujarat have settled down in Reunion Island. They have adapted to and also contributed in forming the unique culture of this place.” She adds, “In Chennai we drew parallels between Indian culture and the culture of the Reunion Island in a contemporary art work. And in Mumbai the highlights would be street paintings. Few of the artists are drawing their influences of living on the island not just on the walls of the gallery but also on a few walls in the city.”

 Another major thought that is highlighted through the show is the uncertainty of the roots they belong to. Francine explains, “While all the artists come from different backgrounds, they share the common concern of not being registered, not being classified according to the classic figures of current contemporary art. There is no form of nostalgia in their art; there are no regrets, no
resentment. If all of them are opposed to a standardised
vision of the world, the weapons they resort to are artistic, rather than ideological.
 
The exhibition sheds light on the idea of an extraterritorial space which today can no longer be considered as a bane, but as a promise of the world and of the future.”