Excited to curate Given Time : The Gift and Its Offering for Aicon Contemporary which opens July 15th. The exhibition presents works across media by artists including Sheba Chhachhi, Nikhil Chopra, Raqs Media Collective, Anita Dube, Shaurya Kumar, Justin Ponmany, N. Pushpamala, Prajakta Potnis, Mithu Sen, and Sumakshi Singh. Given Time: The Gift and its Offerings is an invitation proposed to ten Indian artists to unpack the concepts behind the gift. Oblivious to the greater contractual obligations, we receive with a premature understanding of the significant and inconspicuous exchange between individuals. Every society has different practices relating to the exchanges of goods and wealth, real and personal property, and subsuming categories of economic value, though also of military favors, rituals, and hospitality. It is an area of scholarship by many historians, including anthropologist Marcel Mauss, who suggests that giving is not a voluntary action between people but that the person receiving a gift is obligated - emphasizing its contractual nature. The exhibition title pays homage to philosopher Jacques Derrida's book, Given Time 1: Counterfeit Money. It highlights the critical "interval" between the exchange of a gift and counter-gift, suggesting that the gift gives both time and implies the moment within which it must be returned, making the gift, according to him, impossible. This exhibition considers the impossibility of a gift devoid of reciprocity, return, or debt. Join us for an opening reception on July 15th from 6 pm - 8 pm. Please RSVP to [email protected]. #AiconContemporary #AiconGallery #ContemporaryArt #SouthAsianArt #SouthAsianContemporaryArt #IndianArt #NYCArtGallery #GalleryOpening #OpeningDay #NYCArt #arshiyalokhandwala #curator #art history https://www.instagram.com/p/CRHzMuILX1o/?utm_medium=tumblr
