Begun by husband-wife art connoisseur duo Prateek and Priyanka Raja in a ’30s heritage building in Kolkata, Experimenter is a critically-acclaimed contemporary art gallery, which highlights experimental and alternative artists from all over the world. (Priyanka Raja is one of several power women in their 30s who are shaping South Asian Art) Just about eight years old, it’s already become synonymous with cerebral, avant-garde programming and won several awards, including the best contemporary gallery of the year award by Forbes India Art Awards in 2014 and the best gallery of the year award by the India Today Art Awards in 2016.
Many stars of South Asian contemporary art including Naeem Mohaiemen, Nadia Kaabi-Linke, Raqs Media Collective and Bani Abidi (whose delectable solo, An Unforeseen Situation was exhibited at Dallas Contemporary recently) have hung, performed, been installed and projected here. Popular for its multi-disciplinary approach, Experimenter is an encouraging space for interactive installations, multiple-channel work, live projects, performances and talks; and even mounts floor based works.
The Experimenter Curators’ Hub, an annual conference the pair began in 2012, is geared at refining Indian exhibition-making and is one of the most important events in the Indian Arts scene today. Its 6th edition will take place over three days, starting July 28 at the Experimenter, Kolkata.
The Hub brings together a comprehensive, inspiring pool of speakers from the visual arts community; including Indian and international curators, critics, writers, thinkers, artists, collectors and theorists. This year the curators’ hub broadens its scope by including curators of architecture and design, and not just visual art. Participating curators include the Director of Serpentine Galleries in London, Hans Ulrich Obrist; Singapore Biennale 2017 curator Susie Lingham; artist and curator Dayanita Singh; JNU professor, art historian and curator Naman Ahuja; Swiss industrial designer and journalist, Ariana Pradal; and Italian architect, Dr. Giorgio Galleani among others.
Registrations are now closed, however, the event can be live-streamed here.
Experimenter, 2/1 Hindustan Road, Kolkata 700029, India
(P.S. While in Kolkata, you might also want to pay a visit to this cool new gastropub on Park Street)
