Alchemies of Form

Yashika Sugandh participated in Alchemies of Form, a monumental outdoor sculpture exhibition presented by Saffronart at the CCA Lawns, Bikaner House, New Delhi, from January 30 to February 9, 2025. Curated by renowned art critic Uma Nair, the exhibition brought art beyond the confines of gallery walls, placing icons of modern Indian art in direct conversation with the natural environment and public space.

Sugandh presented alongside celebrated sculptors including Krishen Khanna, Himmat Shah, Thota Vaikuntam, Dhananjay Singh, and Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi, contributing her distinctive voice to a dialogue spanning generations of Indian artistic practice. Her large-scale sculptural work “Matar” transformed an intimate domestic discovery into monumental form, capturing the moment she found a caterpillar while peeling peas. Rendered in acrylic on fiber resin and nylon at 96 inches in height, the sculpture embodied her ongoing exploration of nature’s delicate presence within human experience.

The exhibition’s title reflected the transformative processes through which these artists transmute raw materials into profound visual statements. By situating monumental works in an outdoor setting, Alchemies of Form invited broader public engagement with contemporary Indian sculpture, emphasizing accessibility and the vital relationship between art, nature, and communal space. Sugandh’s participation continued her practice of merging ecological awareness with artistic innovation, offering viewers encounters with forms that honor the overlooked wonders of the natural world.