Alchemy of Matter: Exploring New Materiality in Baroda’s Studios

How the Lexicon Art Gallery is spotlighting a powerful shift in contemporary art practice

Contemporary Indian art is in the midst of a quiet revolution—and this time, it begins in the studios of Baroda. With the exhibition ‘Alchemy of Matter – New Materiality and Studio Practices at Baroda’, The Lexicon Art Gallery in New Delhi brings together 16 pioneering artists whose works redefine the meaning of material, medium, and method.

Curated by Rahul Bhattacharya, the show is a tribute to the changing studio culture of Baroda—one of India’s most storied art hubs—offering an in-depth look into how materials themselves have become sites of resistance, reflection, and storytelling.

Baroda has long been associated with powerful narrative traditions and later, mediatic realism. But this exhibition tells a different story—one where the materials speak first.

From bronze and clay to glass, fabric, and found objects, the participating artists are doing more than just creating art—they are reshaping its very purpose. Their practices suggest that in today’s world, the material is no longer just a vehicle for concept. It is the concept.

As curator Rahul Bhattacharya puts it,

“The Alchemy of Matter insists that materials are not mute—they argue, provoke, and remember… The studio is no longer a backdrop—it is the birthplace of thinking with the hands.”

Visitors can expect to engage with tactile, thought-provoking, and materially diverse works that challenge the boundaries of traditional media. The exhibition features an impressive lineup of mid-career and emerging artists such as Mayur Gupta, known for his process-driven approach; Sashidharan Nair, whose experimental surface work creates unexpected visual poetry; and Indrapramit Roy, who brings nuanced layering and symbolism to every piece.

Also featured are Anuj Poddar and Ganesh Gohain, each exploring memory and movement through material abstraction, alongside Santana Gohain and Chander Prakash, whose practices interrogate form, space, and lived histories. Artists like Vinod Daroz, Alok Bal, and Nimesh Patel continue to push the envelope with their distinct interpretations of tactile storytelling. The younger voices in the show—Uday Mondal, Ajay Lakhera, Rai David, Santa Rakshit, Lochan Upadhyay, and Azghar Ali—are redefining what it means to create in a world saturated by both technology and tradition.

Together, these artists represent a dynamic spectrum of studio practices that use materials not just as tools, but as collaborators in thought and provocation.

Baroda’s relevance in the Indian art scene is far from waning. In fact, if this show is any indication, the city is entering an exciting new chapter—one that defies categorization. While it was once synonymous with the grand narratives of modern Indian art, it is now becoming a laboratory for how materials can function as memory, protest, critique, and poetry.

Mamta Nath, Founder of The Lexicon Art Gallery, reflects, “Baroda’s studio culture has always had a special pulse—quiet yet deeply powerful. This exhibition offers a glimpse into a movement that’s growing not in the headlines, but in the silence of studios where thought, form, and material collide.”

What makes Alchemy of Matter truly stand out is that it isn’t just about showcasing artworks—it’s about showcasing ways of thinking. The show makes space for dialogue—not only between artists and their materials but also between different generations, mediums, and worldviews.

From re-politicised ceramics to re-contextualised glassworks, every piece invites viewers to slow down and engage. To ask: What does it mean to create in today’s world? And how can the material itself be part of the message?

The Lexicon Art Gallery: Championing Thoughtful Art

An initiative of Delhi Press Magazines, The Lexicon Art Gallery has been committed to breaking barriers between the artist and the audience. Situated in the heart of Connaught Place, the gallery has long served as a cultural nerve centre—curating exhibitions that are not just visually rich, but also intellectually layered.

Their shows are known for creating meaningful connections—between art and the everyday, the historical and the present, the material and the metaphor.

Alchemy of Matter is not a spectacle—it’s an invitation. To touch with the eyes, to think with the senses, and to discover how matter becomes meaning in the hands of today’s artists.

This is not just an exhibition. It’s a quiet revolution unfolding in clay, glass, metal, and textile. And it asks us to pause and listen—to the materials, the makers, and the shifting story of Baroda itself.

Exhibition Title: Alchemy of Matter – New Materiality and Studio Practices at Baroda

Curated by: Rahul Bhattacharya

Preview:

April 25, 2025 | 6 PM – 9 PM

Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi

Open to Public:

April 26 – April 29, 2025 | 11 AM – 7 PM

Main Art Gallery, Bikaner House, New Delhi

Continued Viewing:

May 5 – June 10, 2025 | 11 AM – 7 PM

The Lexicon Art Gallery, M-12 Connaught Place Outer Circle, New Delhi