Eikowa Contemporary presents WILD GRASS, a group exhibition curated by Yash Vikram, opening on Friday, 20 March 2026, from 5–8 PM in Gurgaon. Bringing together five artists, the exhibition reflects on the evolving realities of rural India amid migration, climate change, and infrastructural development.
Rethinking the Rural Landscape
The exhibition positions the village not as a nostalgic or deficient space, but as a site of negotiation shaped by rapid change. It addresses how rural India is being reshaped under pressures of digitalisation, migration, and speculative growth, offering a more layered understanding of contemporary village life.
Curatorial Framework
Curated by Yash Vikram, WILD GRASS unfolds as both reflection and reckoning. The curatorial approach focuses on artistic practices rooted in lived rural experiences, highlighting how artists respond to shifting socio-economic and ecological realities.
Participating Artists and Practices
The exhibition features works by Bhuri Bai, Hiren Patel, Mukesh Sah, Vaishali Oak, and Xewali Deka, each engaging with rural narratives through distinct mediums and perspectives.
Key artistic approaches include:
- Tribal and indigenous visual languages
- Agricultural and ecological narratives
- Textile-based contemporary practices
- Interdisciplinary work linking art and farming
- Memory, labour, and landscape-based explorations
Artist Backgrounds
Bhuri Bai, a pioneering Bhil artist and Padma Shri awardee, is known for translating traditional Pithora painting onto canvas. Hiren Patel’s practice reflects on farming in South Gujarat, while Mukesh Sah draws from Himalayan landscapes and his background in media.
Vaishali Oak works with textiles, blending painterly techniques with fabric, and Xewali Deka combines her experience as an artist and farmer to explore rural ecologies and labour. Together, their works present diverse yet interconnected perspectives on rural India.
Venue and Exhibition Details
The exhibition will preview at Eikowa Contemporary, Gurgaon on 20 March 2026 and will remain on view until 18 April 2026. The gallery, known for supporting both emerging and established artists, continues its focus on shaping discourse around contemporary Indian art through curated exhibitions and public engagement.
| Aspects | Details |
| Event | WILD GRASS |
| Artists | Bhuri Bai, Hiren Patel, Mukesh Sah, Vaishali Oak, Xewali Deka |
| Venue | Eikowa Contemporary |
| City | Gurgaon |
| Opening Date | Friday, 20 March 2026, 5–8 PM |
| Exhibition Dates | 20 March – 18 April 2026 |
| Organiser | Eikowa Contemporary |
| Entry / Tickets | Not specified |
| Website / Registration | https://www.eikowa.com |
About the Organiser
Eikowa Contemporary operates from Gurgaon and Hyderabad, promoting artists who contribute to evolving narratives in Indian contemporary art. Its programming emphasises the intersection of traditional influences and experimental practices within a growing art ecosystem.
Exhibition Highlights
- Exploration of rural transformation in contemporary India
- Works rooted in lived village experiences
- Diverse media including painting, printmaking, and textile
- Dialogue between tradition and modernity
Takeaway
WILD GRASS offers a timely reflection on the changing realities of rural India, moving beyond simplified narratives to reveal complexity and resilience. By bringing together diverse artistic voices, the exhibition contributes to broader conversations on identity, ecology, and socio-economic transformation. It invites viewers to reconsider the village as a dynamic and evolving space within contemporary culture.
