The Showroom is pleased to announce that it has commissioned Delhi-based artist Subodh Gupta to make a new body of work to be presented at The Showroom between 21 April - 30 May 2004.

Subodh Gupta is best known for his sculptural works that elevate the status of found objects, from everyday items to artworks; his works have involved casting bamboo sticks, kitchen utensils and most recently, a scooter in metal. The objects that Gupta works with refer to a traditional way of life in the sub-continent that is rapidly disappearing as India becomes a homogenised, urban society. Gupta has said, about these works, that he enjoys their absurdity and density, as well as their ability to become a bridge between Eastern and Western cultural traditions.

In the past, Subodh Gupta has employed a variety of media in his work to express his ideas about place and belonging. These have included cow dung, ash, wood, stainless steel, video and readymade objects. Many of his chosen materials, such as cow dung, are loaded with metaphor and narrative; it is precisely because of their cultural significance that the artist has selected them.

For The Showroom, Subodh Gupta will present a new body of work that continues to draw from his own immediate experiences in India; these include his childhood and family, his everyday environment, food and the places and people that he encounters. On this occasion he will explore the ideas of economic migration.

In the front of the gallery, Gupta will present aluminium casts of a 'gharti', a traditional tied bundle that is used to transport goods. These bundles will be shown on the cast roof of an Ambassador car (another Indian icon). Along side this work will be a cast airport trolley also loaded with cases and bundles.

Gupta has become fascinated by the 'ghartis' he sees when he travels. Representing Globalisation in its most complex form, these 'ghartis' are carried by migrant workers returning from the Gulf States. While these workers are viewed as a form of cheap labour, the wages that they earn are often beyond those in India. This allows them to contribute to their families at home and to purchase consumer goods, these imported items carry a high cache within the Indian economy that remains largely protectionist.

ABOUT SUBODH GUPTA

Subodh Gupta was born in Khagaul, Birar, India in 1964. He studied Fine Art at the College of Arts & Crafts in Patna, graduating in 1988. He now lives and works in New Delhi.

Subodh Gupta's work has been included in high profile group projects such as the Tree from the Seed, Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Oslo, the 8th Havana Biennale, Havana, Cuba and the inaugural show at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris. He is represented by Nature Morte gallery.

His project for The Showroom will be his first solo show in London.

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