Dear Ashokan,

The DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL ARTS cordially invites you to a colloquium in the VISUAL ARTS COLLOQUIUM SERIES '24-25  

Title: Questions of “Nature”

Speaker: Ravi Agarwal, Artist & Environmentalist

Abstract: Delving into his experience and research based practice as an environmentalist and artist, Agarwal speaks about the his ideas of nature, its speculative futures, through enquires based in the sciences, issues of social justice and aesthetics.

Bio: Ravi Agarwal (www.raviagarwal.com) is an interdisciplinary artist, photographer, environmental campaigner, writer, and curator whose work bridges art and activism. His practice addresses the complex relationship between nature and its futures through photography, video, text, and installation. Ravi's work has been exhibited at major biennales including Lahore (2024), Havana (2019), Yinchuan (2018), Kochi (2016), Sharjah (2013), and Documenta XI (2002). He has curated large public art projects like Yamuna-Elbe (2009) and Embrace Our Rivers, (2018) and served as photography curator for the Serendipity Arts Festival (2018, 2019). He curated New Natures, A terrible beauty is born at the Goethe Institute and CSMVS Museum, Mumbai (January 2022), and Imagined Documents at the Les Recontres d' Arles (July 2022). He was the curatorial advisor for the exhibition Carbon (2024) at the Science Gallery, Bengaluru, and is Co-Convenor for the upcoming Bergan Assembly 2025 (Norway). Ravi is also the founder of the environmental NGO Toxics Link (www.toxicslink.org) and The Shyama Foundation, (www.sharedecologies.org) which supports initiatives at the intersection of art and ecology in India. He recent projects include Samtal Jameen, Samtal Jameer(www.multispeciesart.org) and a photobook The Power Plant – fragments in time. He is a recipient of the UN Award for Chemical Safety and the Ashoka Fellowship. (www.raviagarwal.com).

We look forward to your active participation.

Warm regards,

Visual Arts Department