Upcoming art exhibition in Mumbai to focus on how truth is constructed, perceived and revealed

Opening on March 13, Voir Dire is an upcoming exhibition in Mumbai that is rooted in an exploration of truth and perception. Derived from an old French phrase meaning ‘to speak the truth,’ the term is used in legal contexts to describe the process of questioning and revealing hidden realities. Curated by Anupa Mehta, a gallerist, curator, and author, the exhibition invites viewers to examine how truth is constructed, perceived, and revealed from different perspectives.
Anupa Mehta explains, “When we launched Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art in 2008, our primary focus was to nurture young and emerging artists, as well as curators, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent. However, since 2018, we have expanded our vision to include internationally recognized mid-career artists. With this latest exhibition, we are taking yet another step forward by presenting the works of established contemporary artists through a series of group shows. Our aim is to create opportunities for new and younger collectors to acquire pieces from some of India's most renowned artists."
Voir Dire marks a shift in the gallery’s programming, bringing together contemporary Indian artists like Arunkumar HG, Benitha Perciyal, Bose Krishnamachari, Chittrovanu Mazumdar, G Ravinder Reddy, Riyas Komu, Sudarshan Shetty, and Valay Shende. The exhibition emphasises how art can reveal layers of truth, challenging viewers to question the boundaries between reality and illusion.
The artwork serves as witnesses to their time and environment, inviting viewers to engage in a process of discovery. Each piece presents fragments of truth, some vivid, some obscure, reflecting social, political, and personal themes. Arunkumar HG’s cactus sculpture raises awareness about climate change, while Benitha Perciyal’s life-sized piece speaks to displacement and loss. Chittrovanu Mazumdar’s work is an elegy for the loss of collective voice, and G Ravinder Reddy’s sacred fruit sculpture challenges perceptions of the ordinary. Riyas Komu critiques power and surveillance, and Valay Shende’s EVM sculpture offers a commentary on democracy.
Mehta reflects, “The process of viewing allows multiple layers of truth to surface, pointing towards the artwork’s inherent capacity to reveal its intent. Each piece engages in a form of voir dire, presenting fragments of truth—sometimes vivid, sometimes obscure—and invites the viewer to be a part of the discovery."
The exhibition creates a space for reflection on the complex interplay between material and meaning, illusion and reality, encouraging viewers to delve into deeper questions about the truths that shape our world.