Raqs Media Collective Explores Psychological Trauma of WWI Indian Soldiers in Colchester Exhibition
The exhibition 'Not Yet At Ease' by Raqs Media Collective at Firstsite in Colchester delves into the psychological impact of World War I on Indian soldiers, utilizing a 'Theatre Opera' format. This collective, which includes Jeebesh Bagchi, Monica Narula, and Shuddhabrata Sengupta, incorporates archival resources such as medical documents and letters from soldiers. The installation presents soft-walled cells that evoke psychiatric wards, featuring texts and illustrations from 1915 to 1917. Running until December 31, it is part of the 14–18 NOW program. Simultaneously, their project 'In the Open or in Stealth' at MACBA in Barcelona investigates the intersection of contemporary art and historical scientific drawings. Founded in 1992, Raqs has previously curated the 2016 Shanghai Biennale.
Key facts
- Raqs Media Collective formed in 1992 with members Jeebesh Bagchi, Monica Narula and Shuddhabrata Sengupta
- 'Not Yet At Ease' exhibition runs through December 31 at Firstsite, Colchester
- Exhibition commissioned for 14–18 NOW program marking WWI centenary
- Research included soldiers' letters, medical reports, Imperial War Museum photographs, and German POW camp recordings
- Indian soldiers were often diagnosed with 'trench spine' instead of shellshock
- Collective curated 2016 Shanghai Biennale focusing on nuanced Chinese art
- 'In the Open or in Stealth' exhibition runs through March 17 at MACBA, Barcelona
- Collective's work explores psychological trauma, techno-capitalism, globalization and Marxist theory
Entities
Artists
- Jeebesh Bagchi
- Monica Narula
- Shuddhabrata Sengupta
- Santiago Ramón y Cajal
Institutions
- Raqs Media Collective
- Firstsite
- 14–18 NOW
- Imperial War Museum
- MACBA
- Shanghai Biennale
- Sarai
- Kitchener Indian Hospital
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Colchester
- United Kingdom
- New Delhi
- India
- Barcelona
- Spain
- Shanghai
- China
- Berlin
- Germany
- Brighton
- Manchester