Gossamer
By Dhara Mehrotra
Gossamer reflects upon the topology of networks in nature. Inspired by Mycelium in the wood wide web’, the installation builds up over a stretch of 10-11 days on site. Viewers are welcome to witness the work in process, material and interact about the exploitation involved. Once installed, visitors are welcome to exchange thoughts in person or over email with the actant about installation and the research behind the body of work’A reflection upon the idea of self-organized communication in plant world through fungal networks, also called 'Mycelia'. Mycelia networks are mass of branching thread like structures, spreading over great lengths underground, as wood-wideweb, connecting the roots of all vegetation, cycling life energy through them. A wall installation, Gossamer intends to project the form and structure and topology of these networks. As part of the ongoing body of work, the idea focuses on the growth and fabric of mycelium, cluster patterns and its’ mechanics. The installation expands as spill or spurge around in different mediums and intensifies in density at the site through its run. The exchange of thoughts from viewers is welcomed, and shall constitute a part of the project documentation.
Actant
Dhara Mehrotra has an MFA in Painting from College of Art, Delhi University, (2005), she has exhibited with art galleries in New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, The Gulf Art Fair Dubai, ‘Museum of Sacred Arts’ (MOSA) Belgium, Madrid (Spain) ‘The China Art Museum’ (Shanghai) and University of California, Savannah; Georgia. She is recipient of The Swapan Biswas award for academic excellence, Visual Art Junior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, The Government of India (2007). Dhara’s work essentially draws upon from landscape and its inherent ecology; such as flora, foliage, ferns, grass, pollen and other aspects of the landscape. As part of Artist-in-Residence outreach program with NCBS-TIFR Bangalore, her recent work is a closer look at how trees talk to and share with each other via a communication network, ‘Wood-Wide-Web’.