Terra : Unraveling the Earth’s Story in Embroidery

Curated by Dr. Arshiya Lokhandwala

This exhibition interrogates the concept of Terra—Earth as both a physical entity and a symbol of human interaction with nature—through the lens of embroidery as an artistic medium. Employing the tactile intimacy of thread and textile, the featured works reveal complex narratives of ecological fragility, environmental degradation, and cultural interconnectedness, offering a profound meditation on the Earth’s precarious state.

Each artist activates embroidery as a conceptual tool, bridging craft and contemporary art to reframe traditional forms into urgent ecological critiques. Ranbir Kaleka’s poetic explorations, Nikhil Chopra’s performative interventions, Manjunath Kamath’s layered allegories, Shaurya Kumar’s deconstructed landscapes, and Rekha Rodwittiya’s feminist engagements with nature and spirituality collectively evoke a multiplicity of responses to the environmental crisis. The medium itself—a labor-intensive and historically gendered practice—serves as a metaphor for care, repair, and the slow process of restoration, echoing the intricate interdependencies within natural systems.

By recontextualizing embroidery within contemporary art discourse, Terra positions these works as poignant commentaries on global ecological challenges. This exhibition not only underscores the conceptual depth of embroidery but also situates it within the lineage of material practices that have shaped both cultural and ecological histories.
Inviting viewers to engage critically, Terra highlights the role of artistic practices in