Sub-Topical Heat: New Art from South Asia

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery showcases the vitality and breadth of new art from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in its ground-breaking winter season all-gallery exhibition Sub-Topical Heat: New Art from South Asia (14 July – 4 November).

Sub-Topical Heat is the most extensive and in-depth exhibition of art from the Indian Subcontinent ever presented in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Works by artists Naeem Mohaiemen and Nusra Latif Qureshi will join those of Bani Abidi, Sheba Chhachhi, NS Harsha, independent publisher Raking Leaves, Gigi Scaria, Imran Qureshi and Sharmila Samant.

The artists will present works driven by the impacts of globalisation on individual lives, new trajectories within tradition, social and political justice, urban and ecological change, myth, gender and collective memory. Their visual languages span installation, sculpture, photography, drawing, miniature painting, video and photo-media.

The exhibition continues the Govett-Brewster’s unique focus within New Zealand on contemporary Pacific and Asian art practice, responding to global shifts in cultural influence and expression.

The works highlight the intellectually rigorous art emerging from the Indian Subcontinent in light of rapid social, political, environmental and economic transformations.

The energy and intelligence of the art from this region is impossible to ignore and is attracting wide international attention. There has never been an exhibition of this scale of art from South Asia to date in Aotearoa New Zealand. Following previous exhibitions that featured artists from China, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan, it is appropriate that the Govett-Brewster has now turned its attention to contemporary art and artists from South Asia.

The exhibition is curated by Govett-Brewster Director Rhana Devenport with Meredith Robertshawe as Assistant Curator.

Sheba Chhachhi, Sharmila Samant, NS Harsha and Gigi Scaria will be visiting New Plymouth for the exhibition opening events, as will art historian and curator Dr Chaitanya Sambrani from the Australian National University School of Art, a leading international specialist on contemporary art from South Asia.