Critical review of "Silent Meander" by Aparajita Jain Mahajan displayed at Vida Heydari Contemporary Gallery, Pune.

This critical review takes a closer look at a mixed media exhibition titled “Silent Meander” by artist Aparajita Jain Mahajan displayed at Vida Heydari Contemporary Gallery in Pune, India from February to April 2025. The title discloses the exhibition's theme, which explores the essence of human life subtilised by the flow of time by using intuitively crafted abstract works acting as emotive topographies. Aparajita’s practice is rooted in personal meaning and an inspiring sense of transformation as she works organically with repetitive mark-making on handmade paper and fabric scraps from her late mother’s textile practice. A deeply personal choice of medium makes her practice feel almost sacrificial, as the artist emphasizes transition and new beginnings while honouring history. Viewed in their changed form, the fabric pieces invoke thoughts of what they once were, the depth of the artist’s mother's creativity and what she beautifully coins as, “the looming concept of legacy.”

Every artwork gives a sense of being a small piece of a larger interconnected tapestry which demands introspection from the viewer. Upon a closer look, the mixed media collages reveal intricate details that transition from flat two-dimensional drawings to three-dimensional forms that overflow from the frame. Discovering tiny intricacies that are indicative of conversations, intertwining moments, places and objects and following them as a map leads the viewer to explore the exhibition with a sense of childlike wonder and curiosity. Using abstract expressionism, the exhibition captured the feelings of retracing footsteps into the passage of time and pausing to reflect upon the singularity of moments that define us. It is reminiscent of the process of self-discovery through our histories, places and people that contribute to the making of our present environment. Aparajita's works explore identity in the modern world gently and reflectively, reinforced by her subtle and earthy colour palette. The curatorial design of the exhibition as well as Aparajita’s work conveyed a quiet meditative space. The pieces of tapestry displayed in unframed glass under studio lights allowed the play of shadows and light to reveal the varying textural qualities of each piece. In a small section of the gallery, the artist was invited to unleash her potential and work directly on the walls. The result is a liminal space created with delicate paper-mache protrusions from the walls that surround the viewer. These mycelium-like formations flow gracefully around the room, inviting exploration and evoking a sense of wonder as one moves through this immersive environment. This experience of this segment concludes the theme of the exhibition, experiencing the passage of time by placing the viewer at the centre of it and allowing them the individual quietude to process it.

Using materials from her everyday life, Aparajita plays with the boundaries of the past, present and future.

Silent Meander as an exhibition offers a personal meditation to rediscover memories and celebrate evolution. It inspires hope for what we will become while expressing gratitude for our origins, making a powerful statement on identity and the human condition.

Link to view installation pictures: https://www.vhc.art/exhibition/silent-meander