Sameksha, the contemporary art gallery housed within Sanatan: IILM Centre for Arts & Ideas in New Delhi, will mark its first anniversary with Close | Far: Lean In, Step Back, a group exhibition curated by Yamini Telkar. Previewing on 7 August 2026 and opening to the public from 8 August to 12 September 2026, the exhibition brings together works by artists Kavita Nayyar, Vanita Gupta, Savya Jain and Aman Kumar Bavaria. Developed through an extended dialogue between the curator and participating artists, the exhibition examines how scale influences perception, intimacy and the experience of contemporary art.
A Shared Inquiry into Contemporary Artistic Practice
Rather than presenting a fixed interpretation of contemporary art, the exhibition approaches scale as an evolving framework through which viewers experience artworks. The title, Close | Far: Lean In, Step Back, reflects the physical and conceptual shifts involved in viewing art. Visitors are encouraged to observe minute details before stepping back to consider larger forms and relationships, highlighting how meaning changes according to distance, attention and perspective.
Curator Yamini Telkar explains that the exhibition emerged from sustained conversations with the artists rather than from a predetermined curatorial concept. By treating scale as both a visual language and a method of artistic inquiry, the exhibition invites audiences to consider how artworks create emotional and intellectual engagement beyond their physical dimensions.
Four Artists offer Distinct Perspectives
Although united by the central theme of scale, each participating artist explores it through a distinct visual vocabulary.
Highlights of the exhibition include:
- Kavita Nayyar explores rhythm, repetition, colour and materiality through layered compositions.
- Vanita Gupta presents restrained works that reward close observation and careful viewing.
- Savya Jain combines figuration and abstraction to create contemplative spaces where memory and perception intersect.
- Aman Kumar Bavaria investigates structure, gesture and materiality, challenging conventional relationships between objects, viewers and exhibition space.
Together, the four practices create multiple ways of understanding how physical distance shapes emotional response and visual interpretation.
Historical References Inform Contemporary Conversations
The exhibition also places contemporary artistic practice within a broader historical context. It references the intimate Himalayan landscapes of Bireswar Sen alongside Claude Monet’s expansive Water Lilies series to demonstrate how artists across different periods have used scale to influence perception and emotional experience.
Rather than drawing direct comparisons, these historical examples provide a framework for understanding how contemporary artists continue to negotiate questions of intimacy, monumentality and spatial experience. The exhibition positions scale not simply as a formal quality but as an active participant in the dialogue between artwork and audience.
Sameksha Continues to Expand its Cultural Programme
The exhibition also celebrates the completion of Sameksha Gallery’s first year of programming. Since its inauguration, the gallery has presented seven exhibitions while developing a broader cultural platform that includes artist talks, workshops, book launches, performances and the Young Artist Mentorship Lab. Operating within Sanatan: IILM Centre for Arts & Ideas, Sameksha has sought to support emerging and mid-career artists while encouraging public engagement with contemporary artistic practice.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, visitors can also attend a series of public programmes, including:
- A book discussion with Neeraj Batra
- A screening of The Coral Woman, followed by a conversation with filmmaker Priya Thuvassery
- An art appreciation talk hosted by the gallery
These events extend the exhibition’s themes beyond the gallery space and encourage broader conversations around art, education and cultural participation.
Visitor Information
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Close | Far: Lean In, Step Back |
| Curator | Yamini Telkar |
| Participating Artists | Kavita Nayyar, Vanita Gupta, Savya Jain and Aman Kumar Bavaria |
| Preview | 7 August 2026 |
| Exhibition Dates | 8 August – 12 September 2026 |
| Venue | Sameksha, Sanatan: IILM Centre for Arts & Ideas, Mandi House, New Delhi – 110002 (Open in Google Map) |
| Gallery Timings | 11:30 AM – 6:30 PM |
| Organiser | Sameksha, Sanatan: IILM Centre for Arts & Ideas |
| Entry | Open to the public |
| Website | https://sameksha.in |
Takeaway
Marking both an anniversary and a new chapter in Sameksha’s journey, Close | Far: Lean In, Step Back brings together four distinct artistic voices to examine how viewers experience contemporary art through changing perspectives. By combining thoughtful curatorial inquiry with public programmes and educational engagement, the exhibition reinforces the gallery’s commitment to fostering dialogue between artists, audiences and the wider cultural community. It offers visitors an opportunity to reflect on how perception itself becomes part of the artistic experience.
