Baba Anand's 'The Major Arcana' at Religare Arts reimagines Dalí's surrealism with tarot-inspired opulence.
At the Religare Arts Initiative in Delhi, Baba Anand presents his exhibition 'The Major Arcana,' drawing inspiration from Salvador Dalí's World Tarot deck. The show features 22 towering tarot card paintings, each six feet tall, adorned with sequins, glitter, silver dust, and gold leaf. Additionally, it includes twelve installations that pay homage to Dalí's creations, such as Bleeding Roses and Burning Giraffe, as well as a suspended mannequin head and decorative chairs. A replica of Dalí's Mae West Lips Sofa merges themes of the occult and eroticism. Anand, a tarot enthusiast for a decade and an active figure since 2002, plays a pivotal role in Delhi's contemporary art landscape. Simultaneously, Mrinalini Mukherjee's 'LAVA' at Gallery Espace features detailed sculptures that emphasize innovative techniques and materials.
Key facts
- Baba Anand's exhibition 'The Major Arcana' is inspired by Salvador Dalí's World Tarot deck
- The show includes 22 giant tarot card paintings at six feet tall, covered in sequins, silver-dust, glitter, and gold leaf
- Twelve installations feature sculptural references to Dalí's Bleeding Roses and Burning Giraffe
- A replica of Dalí's Mae West Lips Sofa, created with Edward James, is displayed
- Anand has been a tarot card devotee for about ten years and debuted on the Indian art scene in 2002
- Religare Arts Initiative is in its first year and serves as a visionary portal for contemporary art practice
- Mrinalini Mukherjee's 'LAVA' at Gallery Espace runs concurrently, featuring sculptures in wax, rope, clay, and metal
- Few Delhi galleries promote unconventional mediums due to lack of resources or commercial favoritism toward painting
Entities
Artists
- Baba Anand
- Salvador Dalí
- Edward James
- Mrinalini Mukherjee
- Gustave Moreau
Institutions
- Religare Arts Initiative
- Gallery Espace
- Devi Art Foundation
- Khoj International
- Palette Art Gallery
- Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
- Gallery Nature Morte
Locations
- Delhi
- India