Of Worlds Within

After the Rain, Haren Das, 1953, India, Colour woodcut print on paper, Image: H. 17.7 cm, W. 24 cm; Paper: H. 20.2 cm, W. 25.5 cm, MAC.00142.

Join us for the launch of three new films from the series A World Within. In this series of films that respond to MAP’s collection, filmmaker Amit Dutta looks at cultural objects as portals that can help us map our past, both critically and creatively, and explore the possibilities that lie ahead in the future. This screening will showcase two films from the series: Haren Das: 21 Studies of Life, In the Beautiful Mind Forest of Sita Devi, and The Many Interrupted Dreams of Mr. Hemmady

Haren Das: 21 Studies of Life, Amit Dutta portrays the remarkable ability to infuse static images with vivid life, giving an immersive experience to Das’s printmaking, wood engravings, etching, and linocut, used to capture landscapes, seascapes, and flora and fauna indigenous to the Bengal region. In the Beautiful Mind Forest of Sita Devi explores the Madhubani paintings of Sita Devi, a rare phenomenon in which a centuries-old, perfectly stylized folk art form, transitioned from the contextual to the context-free space of universal art. The Many Interrupted Dreams of Mr. Hammady explores the unintentional and fantastical narratives contained within matchbox art, delving into the interplay of dreams, desires, and histories, presenting them as a chaotic yet meaningful mosaic of knowledge and wisdom, all while embracing the paradoxical nature of collecting and creation.