When the Moon is Nine Months Full

When the Moon is Nine Months Full

Returning to Mumbai for a solo exhibition after six years, renowned artist Seema Kohli foregrounds questions of time, labour, and movement in this new body of paintings and sculptures. Deconstructing the hierarchy of the clock, the artist calls on us to lean in and imbibe the subliminal rhythms of our planet.

The beating of hearts, phases of the moon, cycles of menstruation, flow of seasons sing forth from her vivid visions. These tellurian pulses foster connections between our bodies and the energies that move alongside, an antidote to the isolation of modern life.

“..when i found You hiding inside me, I ran wild, playing now me, now You” — Lal Ded

Whirling in the syncretic teachings of Kashmiri mystic Lal Ded, Kohli is both disciple and beacon. The artist celebrates the labour of birthing, care, repair, and resistance undertaken by women for centuries, visualizing the adjacency between feminine and forest.

In a poignant series, Kohli pays homage to the trailblazing women of the Chipko movement (Gharwal Himalayas, 1970 onwards). Across the elements — wood, bronze, canvas — eagles and swans with wings outstretched accompany her flight.

Curated by Shaunak Mahbubani