Astha Butail investigates the transmission of knowledge through oral traditions, mythology, and cultural systems. Her work examines how communities preserve and share wisdom across generations, often through rituals, chants, and storytelling, highlighting the interplay between memory, identity, and cultural continuity.
Central to her practice is the use of geometry as a means of inquiry, exploring how different composite elements of an entity relate to its whole. This approach reflects her interest in systems of knowledge and the structures that underpin them. Butail works across media, including textiles, books, sound, and interactive installations, allowing her to translate research into diverse forms.
Her projects often involve extensive research and engagement with communities and scholars to deepen understanding of the traditions she studies. Through her work, Butail creates spaces for reflection on how knowledge is transmitted, preserved, and transformed across cultures and time. Her practice serves as a bridge between past and present, emphasizing the enduring power of oral traditions and the role of cultural memory in shaping collective identity. ...
Founded in 1987, Vadehra Art Gallery is a pioneer of South Asian art, representing artists across four generations from the Indian Subcontinent and its diaspora, helping to shape it as a celebration of culture, identity and intellect. As a confidante to art history and a champion of contemporary creativity, the gallery nurtures a dynamic and flourishing ecosystem where the artist and their work take centre stage, promoting a legacy of artistic expression that resonates with global audiences.
The gallery is recognized for its early support of modern masters such as M.F. Husain, Ram Kumar, S.H. Raza, and Tyeb Mehta, alongside subsequent generations of post-modernists like Arpita Singh, A. Ramachandran, Nalini Malani, Gulammohammed Sheikh, and Rameshwar Broota. Its expansive contemporary programme emphasizes influential names such as Atul Dodiya, Shilpa Gupta, Anju Dodiya, N.S. Harsha, Gauri Gill and Sunil Gupta, as well as emerging talent like Zaam Arif, Biraaj Dodiya and Ashfika Rahman. ...
