आरम्भ (eng. The Beginning ) Opening Event

Join us at Arcadia on Saturday 27 November, 4 – 6pm to celebrate the opening of the  आरम्भ (eng. The Beginning).

Sharing a mutual love of Indian mythology, history and traditional art forms, in 2015 Jatin and Risham started working together to bring new artworks to fruition. Drawing inspiration from both ancient scriptures and contemporary ideas and themes, they work with Indian artisans and technicians to realise their visions. As art forms such as Madhubani and Tanjore have become commonplace through digital recreation and use of new, cheaper materials, the original, highly skilled and detailed techniques, often practised by families and passed down for generations, are dying out due to lack of use. By creating new artworks, using traditional materials and ensuring the artisans and technicians are competitively remunerated, Lealh & Singh aim to support the conservation of these ancient art techniques and raise awareness and appreciation of them.

Featuring only artworks created using traditional techniques and materials, this exhibition honours the beginning of the art forms showcased and also marks the beginning of Lealh & Singh’s journey, with their first solo exhibition taking place in Coventry, UK City of Culture 2021.

Three traditional art forms are celebrated in these new works: Madhubani, from the Mithila region of India; Tajore from the town of Thanjavur; and Ved Art, inspired by the Vedic period of Indian history (1500-340 BCE). Collectively they use traditional patterns, colours and symbols to provide a rich mix of stories, references and meanings that speak to a modern audience.