
the river
Presidents lecture series: Manav Gupta | 12th november, 2015MINNEAPOLIS
COLLEGE of ART and DESIGN
COLLEGE of ART and DESIGN
'arth - art for earth' by manav gupta | Times of India, 2018
etymology​
Museum Of Natural History, Pretoria, South Africa, 2013​
the shrinking river
The third edition of the travelling trilogy, ‘Rainforests and the Circle of Life’, by renowned artist Manav Gupta was recently hosted by the High Commission of India, South Africa, at the National Museum, Pretoria. The site-specific installation ‘Unsung Hymns of Clay’ using earthen lamps explores environment consciousness. Architecture+Design brings you a glimpse of the concept and treatment, which is fresh, minimalistic, innovative and original…
The earthen lamp is woven in the cultural-religious fabric of India from time immemorial. Once home, only at the time of worship, they are used as a tool at the altar. Once the prayer ends, it is discarded again to be immersed in Ganges. Its life is strange as the way of the world and the circle of life, like the unsung hymns of clay.
By using the earthen lamp as a metaphor, the artist explores glaring issues of how perception and context interplay with each other. The installation touches upon issues of equality, respect, treatment towards objects, situation, people and the essence of life beyond manmade boundaries. The pollution of the rivers, the shrinking of water and its availability and such other climate change issues have been in the artist’s ethos of work. In this installation, with a minimalistic approach, the artist depicts his philosophy in understated tones that touch deeply and reverberate, lingering in the mind long after the visual engagement ends.
ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, June 2013
The earthen lamp is woven in the cultural-religious fabric of India from time immemorial. Once home, only at the time of worship, they are used as a tool at the altar. Once the prayer ends, it is discarded again to be immersed in Ganges. Its life is strange as the way of the world and the circle of life, like the unsung hymns of clay.
By using the earthen lamp as a metaphor, the artist explores glaring issues of how perception and context interplay with each other. The installation touches upon issues of equality, respect, treatment towards objects, situation, people and the essence of life beyond manmade boundaries. The pollution of the rivers, the shrinking of water and its availability and such other climate change issues have been in the artist’s ethos of work. In this installation, with a minimalistic approach, the artist depicts his philosophy in understated tones that touch deeply and reverberate, lingering in the mind long after the visual engagement ends.
ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN, June 2013

Bringing a river to the heart of a city.
"Rain, the Ganga Waterfront along Time Machine"
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, 2015



Dialogues at the Waterfront
The artist’s 25 year old process of engaging with all stakeholders of society to have meaningful conversations through engagement with his art that brings awareness about climate change, environment consciousness and sustainable development.
Lighting of Lamps | Thought Experiments

Performances

Education | Schools

Meditation

Poetry and Literature

Engagement with people | What they Say




Rain, the Ganga Waterfront along time Machine, hosted by the India Habitat Centre
Ganga Waterfront at Matighar, IGNCA. Hosted by the Ministry of Culture
Yamuna Project, Museum in a Mall, Hosted by DLF, Mall of India
Recreating Ganga at Varanasi
Shrinking River, South Africa, Hosted by the Ditsong Museum of Natural History and the Indian High Commission
2018
the Ganga Waterfront | Hosted by IGNCA, Ministry of Culture, Government of India

2017
Waterfront | Yamuna Project, Museum in a Mall | Hosted by DLF Mall of India
2015
Rain, the Ganga Waterfront along Time Machine | India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2013
the Shrinking River | Ditsong Museum of Natural History, South Africa
