A Solo Exhibition Rooted in Indic Philosophy
What Remains Awake: Dream, Depth, and the Fourth is a solo exhibition by contemporary artist Sonika Agarwal, opening at Kalamkar Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi. On view from 30 January to 10 February 2026, the exhibition draws from the ancient Indic framework of the four states of consciousness—Jagrat (waking), Swapna (dream), Sushupti (deep sleep), and Turiya (the transcendent fourth).
Abstraction as an Immersive Experience
Rather than illustrating these states, Agarwal approaches them through abstraction, colour, and spatial immersion. Working across painting, sculpture, and installation, she dissolves the conventional boundaries of the canvas, reimagining painting as a living, breathing field rather than a framed object. The works invite viewers into an experiential encounter shaped by perception and presence.
Slowing Down in an Age of Visual Overload
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At the heart of the exhibition is a quiet meditation on slowness. Colour functions as a carrier of consciousness—responding to light, time, and perception as it shifts between intensity, withdrawal, and subdued luminosity. The works demand sustained looking, encouraging viewers to slow down in contrast to the accelerated visual culture of contemporary life.
Curatorial Framework and Philosophical Inquiry
The exhibition is guided by curatorial advisor Myna Mukherjee, who situates Agarwal’s practice within a broader inquiry into perception, interiority, and non-Western philosophical thought. Here, abstraction becomes both a contemplative language and a critical tool—resisting spectacle while privileging inward attention.
Sculptural Installations and Inner Landscapes
Several sculptural installations extend the exhibition’s conceptual terrain. Vasana: The Architecture of Desire gives physical form to latent impressions of longing embedded in the psyche, while Dominance over the Silence of Ahimsareflects on power, vulnerability, and ethical responsibility through a charged predator–prey encounter. Other works glow subtly in darkness, evoking the dream state where memory, emotion, and intuition surface beyond rational control.
International Recognition and Artistic Journey
A self-taught artist with over seventeen years of practice, Sonika Agarwal has exhibited widely in India and internationally. She is a recipient of the National Stree Shakti Award from the President of India. Recently, a selection of works from this body of practice has been acquired by the Museum of Sacred Arts (MoSA), Belgium, marking a significant moment of international institutional recognition.
Exhibition Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Exhibition | What Remains Awake: Dream, Depth, and the Fourth |
| Artist | Sonika Agarwal |
| Curatorial Advisor | Myna Mukherjee |
| Dates | 30 January – 10 February 2026 |
| Timings | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Venue | Kalamkar Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi |
Takeaway
What Remains Awake: Dream, Depth, and the Fourth ultimately asks not what we see, but where we stand within states of awareness. By merging abstraction with Indic philosophy, Sonika Agarwal offers a contemplative space that invites reflection on perception, silence, and the terrain beyond thought—positioning Indian abstraction as a site of philosophical and experiential inquiry.
