We are pleased to present the group exhibition "Mango Man: Allegories of political propositions", curated by TAK Contemporary which takes place from February 1st until March 22nd in 193 Gallery Paris.
The Hindi phrase 'aam aadmi' can be translated to mean both 'the common man' — as in the average Joe or common folk — and the absurdist wordplay 'mango man'. This secondary, satirical translation of the phrase, which has become emblematic of the middle class in Indian political discourse, is the premise of 'Mango Man' — an exhibition of seven Indian artists curated by the Paris-based curatorial trio TAK Contemporary.
Within the context of Indian society, the definition of 'aam aadmi' derives from socio-economic identities such as class, caste, religion, language, gender, and region. Representing the middle and lower strata of society, they are often preoccupied with everyday necessities, have unequal access to infrastructure and opportunities, and endure systemic discrimination.
Showcasing a selection of paintings, sculptures, prints, mixed media pieces, and two large-scale installations by Salik Ansari, K.G. Babu, Satyanarayana Gavara, Sudhakar Chippa, Rajyashri Goody, Pavan Kavitkar, and Sumakshi Singh, the exhibition questions the socio-political norms of Indian society through the critical lens of food politics, caste discrimination, urban-rural migration, and the human-nature conflict and its impact on personal and social memories.
