PhotosTelling Dalit Stories With Leather: Artist Madhukar Murchala's Exhibition In Delhi
Telling Dalit Stories With Leather: Artist Madhukar Murchala's Exhibition In Delhi
Against the backdrop of a huge leather-made portrait of B R Ambedkar, Hyderabad-based Dalit artist Madhukar Mucharla brought to life the experiences and complexities of marginalised communities through his work showcased at the ongoing exhibition at Gelleryske in Delhi. Mucharla experiments with leather -- a material that upper castes mostly despise -- and addresses the politics of (un)touchability by visualising and revisiting the community skill and craft of leather otherwise categorised as discarded and of low profession.
Updated: 25 Sep 2023 4:29 pm
18Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Welcome to inter-dining. Where upper castes don't let Dalits share their tables or plates, the marginalised castes ask all to join them to dine together at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
28Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
A Broken Leather drum known as Dappu in Telegu showcases the lives of Madiga community who makes and plays the drum at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
Advertisement
38Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Urban congested slums made where the migrant Dalit workers stay in the cities. Made through the technique of leather puppetry, it documents the lives of lower caste workers in congested cities.at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
48Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
A large portrait of B R Ambedkar made of leather. It was first showcased in 2018 Students Biennale, Kochi at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
Advertisement
58Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
In the backdrop of Ambedkar's large potrait, the plates made of goat hide are ready to invite people to dine together at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
68Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Broken coconuts symbolically showing the beginning of an auspicious event where people belonging to all castes are invited to dine together at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
Advertisement
78Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Metaphorically showing how Dalits were forced to carry broom tied to their bodies to clean the streets through which they walk cities at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.
88Madhukar Murchala exhibition
| Photo: Suresh K Pandey/Outlook
Urban congested slums made where the migrant Dalit workers stay in the cities. Made through the technique of leather puppetry, it documents the lives of lower caste workers in congested cities.at Vasant Kunj in New Delhi.