Gallerie Nvya will present ऊंबरा: at an ancestral threshold, a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Rohit Suresh Varekar, from 11 July to 31 August 2026 at its Saket gallery in New Delhi. The exhibition examines memory, migration, ecology and cultural continuity through works created from reclaimed architectural fragments salvaged from the Konkan region of Maharashtra.
Reimagining the Konkan Landscape
The exhibition draws inspiration from the devastating floods that affected parts of the Konkan region in 2021. Using doors, beams and pillars recovered from collapsed mud homes, Varekar explores how built environments retain traces of human presence long after communities have moved away or disappeared. Through sculpture, carving, drawing and assemblage, the artist reflects on changing relationships between people, land and architecture.
The Threshold as a Central Metaphor
The Marathi word “ऊंबरा” refers to a raised threshold. In the exhibition, the threshold becomes a symbolic space between past and present, continuity and loss. Rather than treating vernacular architecture as nostalgia, Varekar approaches reclaimed materials as living archives carrying memories of labour, ritual and everyday life. Weathered timber surfaces become sites where personal histories and environmental realities intersect.
Key Works in the Exhibition
Among the highlights is an immersive installation of salvaged double-panel doors inscribed with ecological warnings inspired by noted environmentalist Madhav Gadgil.
Highlights include:
- Reclaimed wooden doors transformed into large-scale installations
- Wax-infused drawings referencing rural landscapes
- Hand-carved imagery inspired by Konkan flora and domestic life
- Assemblages created from salvaged architectural fragments
- Works examining migration, climate vulnerability and cultural memory
The exhibition positions these materials as witnesses to environmental change and rapid urban transformation.
About the Artist
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Rohit Suresh Varekar was born in 1999 in Sawantwadi, Maharashtra, and works primarily with reclaimed wood, drawing, wax and assemblage. His artistic practice is rooted in the ecological and cultural landscapes of the Konkan region, particularly its disappearing mud houses, oral traditions and changing rural environments.
Varekar completed an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts (Sculpture) from Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan, in 2024. Kala Bhavana, founded in 1919 as part of Visva-Bharati University, has played a significant role in shaping modern Indian art and has been associated with artists such as Nandalal Bose, Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinkar Baij.
His recent recognitions include the Takshila Fine Arts Fellowship, Hyundai Art Grant: Art for Hope, Art Ichol Sculpture Fellowship and the Gallerie Nvya Emerging Art Grant. His work has been presented at Art Mumbai and other exhibitions and programmes across India.
Gallerie Nvya’s Continued Support for Emerging Artists
The exhibition is organised by Gallerie Nvya, a New Delhi-based gallery founded in 2004 by Tripat Kalra and currently led by Meher Kalra. The gallery has developed a reputation for presenting both established modern masters and emerging contemporary practitioners while expanding its activities through exhibitions, publications, collaborations and advisory initiatives.
Over the years, the gallery has broadened its presence beyond traditional exhibition venues, creating platforms for wider engagement with contemporary Indian art and fostering dialogue between artists, audiences and institutions.
Visitor Information
The exhibition will be open to visitors at Gallerie Nvya’s Saket space in New Delhi from 11 July to 31 August 2026.
| Event | Details |
| Title | ऊंबरा: at an ancestral threshold |
| Artist | Rohit Suresh Varekar |
| Venue | Gallerie Nvya, 101–103 Square One Mall, C-2, Saket District Centre, New Delhi 110017 |
| City | New Delhi |
| Opening Date | 11 July 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | 11 July – 31 August 2026 |
| Organiser | Gallerie Nvya |
| Timings | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Entry / Tickets | Contact gallery for visitor information |
| Website | https://www.gallerienvya.com |
Conclusion
Through reclaimed architectural fragments and layered material histories, ऊंबरा: at an ancestral threshold explores the relationship between memory, environment and cultural identity. By drawing attention to disappearing vernacular landscapes and the effects of ecological change, the exhibition offers a thoughtful reflection on how communities preserve inherited knowledge while adapting to contemporary realities. It also highlights the role of contemporary art in documenting environmental and social transformations across regional India.
