Bharti Kher

Bharti Kher, born in London in 1969 to Indian parents, has lived and worked between London and New Delhi since 1992. Her art embodies a rich fusion of traditional Indian influences and modern globalized culture. She has remarked, “We are all hybrids and completely unpredictable. This is what I aim to represent in my work.”

Kher's artistic practice frequently employs objects imbued with intrinsic value, which she combines in unexpected ways to create cryptic sculptures, paintings, or installations. These works challenge viewers to reconsider familiar forms by placing them in novel contexts. In her piece The Wise from the Giuseppe Iannaccone Collection, Kher presents a fiberglass sculpture of a monkey adorned with oversized rings and draped in a fur mantle. This creature, reminiscent of both King Kong and Frankenstein’s monster, is suspended from the wall, confronting the viewer with its strange yet evocative presence.

At first glance, the sculpture may seem monstrous, as if it has stepped out of a surreal film. However, upon closer and repeated observation, the work reveals itself as a reflection of contemporary times. It speaks of global issues such as class disparity, consumerism, feminism, and war. Kher's creature, though grotesque, ultimately becomes a symbol of the complexities and contradictions of the modern world, where traditional values collide with the forces of globalization and social change.