Exhibitions

We don’t end at our edges

Paper. We often take it for granted, a mere vessel for words and images. But paper itself is a form of art, a material with its own unique texture and character. Like language, it resonates differently with each of us, a reflection of our individual experiences and perspectives.

We don’t end at our edges is an immersive exhibition featuring artworks by Bengaluru-based artist, writer and educator Ravikumar Kashi. He uses paper to ‘paint’ letters from the Kannada alphabet, transforming language itself into a metaphor for the permeability of human connection, suggesting that while physical forms may fade, the bonds we share as individuals and as a community remain. 

Kashi’s work also touches upon the politics of language, how there can be a longing for one’s mother tongue, preserving cultural heritage and at the same time balancing global interconnectedness. Part of a larger series, We don’t end at our edges, these artworks are open to interpretation inviting viewers to relate to them in their own way.

This exhibition explores three core elements: the physical structure and materiality of the artworks, their porosity and permeability and the concept of language. As visitors walk through, light filters through the fibrous structures, casting mesmerising shadows that enhance the space. The fibrous nature of paper as seen under a microscope is visually translated – a key element of Ravikumar Kashi’s artistic process. 

Furthermore, the incorporation of Kannada script invites reflection on language as a network connecting individual and collective memory. Language, in this context, becomes a repository of experiences, a kind of skin through which we perceive and interact with the world.

In the words of Ravikumar Kashi, “I work with paper and not on paper.”  This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to witness the transformation of a simple material — paper — into an immersive art experience.

We don’t end at our edges opens at MAP, on March 7, 2025.

Photo credits: Philippe Calia and Krishanu Chatterjee

Ravikumar Kashi

Ravikumar Kashi (b. 1968) is an artist, writer and educator whose practice revolves around exploring the mechanics of meaning-making. He holds a BFA in Painting from the College of Fine Arts, Bengaluru, an MFA in Printmaking from the Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara and a Master’s in English Literature from the University of Mysuru.

In 2001, he received the Charles Wallace India Trust Grant, which enabled him to study handmade papermaking under artist and printmaker J Parry, at the Glasgow School of Art. In 2009, he furthered his engagement with the medium, during a three-week hanji papermaking residency in Jang Ji Bang, South Korea, supported by the InKo Centre, Chennai. Since then, paper has become central to his artistic practice, incorporating handmade papers made from diverse fibres such as cotton, banana, hanji and Daphne.

Kashi has presented his work in solo exhibitions at Gallery Sumukha (Bengaluru), Pundole Art Gallery (Mumbai) and Vadehra Art Gallery (New Delhi), as well as internationally at the Glasgow School of Art, Air Gallery (London), Aicon Gallery (Palo Alto) and at exhibitions in Shanghai and Belforte del Chienti (Italy).

In addition to his visual practice, Ravikumar Kashi is a prolific writer. He has authored several books and columns and lectures extensively on visual art and culture in both Kannada and English. His book on art in Kannada, Kannele, was awarded the Karnataka Sahitya Akademi Award in 2015. He teaches at an architecture college in the city of Bengaluru, where he continues to live and work.

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