Curator : Shristi Sainani
Host : Gallery 27, Mattancherry, Kochi
Dates : 7th September 2024 - 7th November 2024
Artist : Aji Adoor, Vasudha Bakshi, Moumita Basak,  Prashant Dhadve, Murari Jha, Saviya Lopes, Tapan Moharana,  Subadrage Nuwan Nalaka, Chhering Negi, Meenakshi Nihalani, Avani Rai, Abela Ruben, Anshu Singh, Muskaan Singh,  Hasseena Suresh, UBIK, Blodsow V S, Birender Yadav .

           
Hold the dandelions, there is no one to be found.
Drifting through cedars,
a soundless trail
lined with ivory snapdragons, there is a little boy under the trees’ green veil.
Birds of paradise, sly to peek from the corners
They see him hunting,
hunting for another.
His eyes big, bright, hazel under the Sun
spell questions in hundreds
to inquire : is there more?
Hold the dandelions, there is no one to be found.

The premise of the exhibition ‘Hold the dandelions, there is no one to be found.’ revolves around the
beauty and revolution, loneliness and quietude that follows the act of being solitary.

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in his text Ecce Homo, spoke of his need for isolation, to say, “I need
solitude - which is to say, recovery, return to myself, the breath of a free, light, playful air.” For him, subtracting
oneself from a crowd was a means to recharge, to replenish thoughts and spirit. British Novelist, Jean Rhys
writes, “Now I no longer wish to be loved, beautiful, happy or successful. I want one thing and one thing only - to
be left alone.”. Rhys found restfulness in being alone. Therefore, it as an act of safeguarding, of preserving, of
wellbeing. While on the other hand Indian poet, writer, philosopher, social reformer, painter, Rabindranath
Tagore, scribed in Bengali in the year 1905 :

“Jodi tor dak shune keu na ashe tobe ekla cholo re.
Tobe ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo, ekla cholo re.”

which translates to :
“If no one answers your call,
Then walk alone,
(be not afraid) walk alone my friend.”

The radical act as means to exude courage. It, being an emblem of belief, righteousness and revolt. To also
mention the idea of American Psychologist Rollo May which states, “In order to be open to creativity, one must
have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone.” It, as an act of
independence, liberation, leisure, release to foster imagination; while being an urgent call for discipline.
To be alone — constricted in a cell, on a boat, while walking along a beaten road, with people or by oneself.
The act we see, holds strength.

The exhibition ‘Hold the dandelions, there is no one to be found.’ is a presentation incurred as a means to
explore the beauty of solitude, its subsidiary torment, keeping in mind the tranquility that comes with
isolation. The presentation softly celebrates the bitter-sweet comfort and contentment that tags along.

The exhibition is curated by Shristi Sainani.

This is a tentative proposal and will be further developed in accordance with the requirements of the institution, artists in concern and evolution of the curatorial strategy in relation to the space and finalised date.