Chennai is hosting an expansive dialogue between dualities with “Where Earth Writes Upon the Sky”, Seema Kohli’s latest solo exhibition. Seema is noted for her mythic storytelling, unique luminous palettes, and her endorsement of Indic philosophical traditions. This exhibition is presented by Gallery Veda and curated by Shaunak Mahbubani and is scheduled to run from 2nd to 28th December, 2025, with an exclusive preview on 1st December, 2025. The exhibition is rolling at the Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai, with Mr. Edgar Pang Tze Chiang and Mrs. Mimi Pang as the chief guests representing the Singapore Consulate. The eve of the preview will be graced by a special musical performance by Shruthi Veena Vishwanath, whose Bhakti–Sufi–rooted performance perfectly corresponds with Seema Kohli’s spiritual visual language. Interestingly, the exhibition marks a watershed moment, as it marks the artist’s return to Chennai after an eight-year gap.
The Exclusive Preview
The inauguration event will be marked by an exclusive preview on December 1st, 2025, at 5.30 PM. It will be graced by the esteemed chief guests of the Singapore Consulate and a live music performance by musician Shruthi Veena Vishwanath. Shruthi Vishwanath draws inspiration from the ideologies of the rich, centuries-old traditions of Bhakti and Sufi music, and also associates herself with the ideologies of community, feminism, and the decolonization of voice. She seeks to reimagine and reclaim voices that were marginalized by dominant histories.
Diving Into The Aesthetics of Her Art
“Where Earth Writes Upon the Sky” is inspired by a line from the poet Gibran that unfurls as a fecund exchange between the opposites, such as earth and sky, body and spirit, and so forth. Her artistic vision is superimposed by mythopoetic imagery, cosmic archetypes, and feminine divinity, which embodies her approach towards her canvases. She projects her vision through inquiries into nature, transcendence, time, and the feminine principle, but pushes the boundaries further through a more immersive narrative. The exhibition houses over 30 diverse works, including paintings, sculpture, drawings, installations, video, and innovative textile-based pieces.
The core concept of the exhibition is rooted in ancient Indian philosophy of Prakriti, where nature is revered as a feminine force. Her work is an articulation of ecofeminist ideology, linking the exploitation of nature to the oppression of women, arguing that both are results of patriarchal structure and societal hierarchies. It urges the viewers to reconnect with the understanding of the environment that is inherently feminine. The curator contextualizes the exhibition within the frame of dualities and highlights how the artist implements the ‘metaphor of the tree’ as the connecting node between poetic and fantastical expressions.
The Mythological Inspirations
The posters and early sneak peeks appear to explore the transitional zone where the sensory feelings blur at the horizon of metaphysics. The artist draws inspiration from Vedic Cosmology, Tantric symbolism, ecological imagination, and autobiographical interpretations. Seema has pushed her boundaries beyond the traditional media of art and beautifully incorporates intricate work of thread and embellishments on raw canvas. The signature motif that is central to her work is the Golden Womb (Hiranyagarbha), a recurring symbol of creation, renewal, and cyclical time. By integrating all these crucial elements, she turns her canvas into a living ecological niche that nurtures not only her vision but also inspires the viewers to engage in ecology-based dialogues. The exhibition, as noted by the artist, is built on the “lifeline of the feminine aspect of nature,” creating a composite experience for the viewer that mediates between the artist’s vision, the artwork’s depth, and the public’s engagement. The curator, Shaunak Mahbubani, known for queer, feminist, and experimental curations, brings an intersectional layer, situating Seema within the contemporary conversations about gendered cosmologies and embodied storytelling.
Important Points About the Exhibition
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Exhibition Title | Where Earth Writes Upon the Sky |
| Artist | Seema Kohli |
| Curator | Shaunak Mahbubani |
| Preview | 1 December 2025, 5:30 pm |
| Venue | Lalit Kala Akademi, Thousand Lights West, Chennai |
| Exhibition Dates | 2–28 December 2025 |
| Chief Guests | Mr. Edgar Pang Tze Chiang & Mrs. Mimi Pang |
| Scope of the Artworks | Over 30 works across painting, sculpture, installation, drawing, video, and textile-based media, showcasing the breadth of Seema Kohli’s artistic practice. |
| Presented by | Gallery Veda |
Key Highlights
- A major solo exhibition by one of India’s most revered contemporary artists.
- Curated with a conceptual lens that bridges myth, feminism, and cosmology.
- Hosted at Lalit Kala Akademi, a premier national art institution in Chennai.
- Preview event includes a live Bhakti–Sufi musical experience by Shruthi Veena Vishwanath.
- Themes revolve around ecological harmony, feminine energies, and spiritual imagination.
- Artworks expected to include large-scale canvases, intricate details, and Kohli’s signature gold leafing.
- Supported by a strong international presence through the Singapore Consulate representation.
- An exhibition that aligns visual art with sound, community practice, and decolonial aesthetics.
Takeaway
Firstly, the exhibition is an integrated showcase of a broader South Asian lineage where art is not distinct from sound, ritual, and collective cultural memory. It is an interconnected continuum. It offers a necessary spiritual and ecological corrective. Today, as the world grapples with dire environmental crises and gender imbalances, Seema Kohli’s undiluted efforts to represent the Prakriti are crucial. It establishes the feminine principle beyond the human gender and poses it as the central force of nature and the universe. Seema’s art seeks to address contemporary questions through ancient imagery. It is a masterpiece of curation and creation, an undeniable highlight of the Chennai art calendar.
