A curated exhibition by artist and curator Dr Shipra Bhatia, presented through Manantar Art, at Lokayat Art Gallery, Hauz Khas, New Delhi, from September 4–6, 2026
Artist and curator Dr Shipra Bhatia, through her initiative Manantar Art, has embarked on a new journey to create a meaningful dialogue between art and society. As part of this initiative, a group exhibition titled मैं शून्य हूँ (Main Shunya Hun) will be held from September 4 to 6, 2026, at Lokayat Art Gallery, Hauz Khas, New Delhi. The exhibition brings together established and emerging artists, along with the creative participation of neurodiverse children and young creators.
At the heart of the exhibition is the concept of ‘Shunya’—an idea that encompasses both emptiness and infinite possibilities. ‘Main Shunya Hun‘ invites viewers to look beyond the visible and experience art not merely as something to be seen, but as a journey through consciousness, identity, transformation and inner experience. Here, the limitations of language recede, allowing experience itself to become a form of expression.
The central idea of Dr Shipra Bhatia is “Creation is the creator, and the creator is creation.” Taking this thought forward, the exhibition does not attempt to confine ‘Shunya’ within any fixed form, meaning or conclusion. Instead, it presents Shunya as an open field of creative possibilities.
Shunya may appear empty, yet it can simultaneously contain infinite possibilities. It has no single, permanent form—it is like water, constantly flowing, transforming and taking new shapes. This understanding is reflected in the diversity of works presented in the exhibition. From figurative to abstract expressions, from imaginative explorations to experimental practices, the participating artists interpret the idea of Shunya through their individual experiences and artistic perspectives.
In this sense, the curator has placed before artists and viewers an open sky of creative possibilities, encouraging them to contemplate the meaning of Shunya. The exhibition is therefore not merely a display of artworks but also an evolving dialogue between the artist, the artwork and the viewer.
A Journey from the Outside to the Inside
Dr Shipra Bhatia also sees the exhibition as a “journey from the outside to the inside”. While the artists were not restricted by any particular subject, they were encouraged to create circular works in order to establish a sense of visual unity across the exhibition.
Here, the circle (Shunya) is not merely a visual form; it becomes a symbol of wholeness, continuity, cycles and interconnectedness.
The exhibition brings together contemporary artistic practices with elements of traditional art. The prominence of circular structures in mandala art establishes a natural connection with the central concept of the exhibition. Mandala and symbolic imagery are presented not merely as visual forms but as vehicles for introspection and reflection.
The circular superstructure, repetition, geometry and balance inherent in mandala-inspired practices provide artists with a visual vocabulary through which they can explore ideas such as order and chaos, individuality and interconnectedness, and movement and stillness.
A Confluence of Established and Emerging Artists
The exhibition features senior and widely recognised artists Roop Chand, Shekhar Kar and Sanjay Bhola, alongside Anees Fatima, Deepshikha Bishoi, Deepali Gover, Divya Anand, Debika Saha, Ekta Advani, Indu Vashistha, Gurpreet Kaur, Mitali Asthana, Mohit Bhardwaj, Mousumi Sircar, Neeti Agrawal, Nisha Verma, Nishika Chopra, Preeti Singh, Pooja Singhal, Ranjana Sharma, Rakhi Gupta, Renu Jain, Remi Poddar, Rohini Manindr, Roopali Paliwal, Prerna Verma, Pragya Dwivedi, Priyanka Vij, Roma Handa, Rozina Yasmin, Sambedana Das Mahapatra, Sapna Agrawal, Seema Singh, Sarika Garg, Selvakanan Rathinam, Shalini Dutt, Sherry Dorairaj, Srishti Goel, Srishti Narang, Shruti Bhalla, Sudha Sharma Khanna, Sushant Biswas, Swati Sinha, Vidushi Dhunta Narula and Vishakha Gautam. Gurpreet Kaur (Kaur Di Taur) will also be part of the exhibition.
Through this diverse participation, the exhibition brings together different generations, perspectives and modes of artistic expression on a shared conceptual platform.
Creative Participation by Neurodiverse Children and Young Creators
One of the distinctive aspects of ‘Main Shunya Hun’ is the creative participation of special children and young creators. Works by Pratham Bhatnagar, Morpheus Nag, Oasis Mahapatra, Avadh Bhatia, Anmol Labar and Nirvana Idal Tripathi, among others, will also be presented.
In collaboration with Prabhat and the Society for Child Development, and with CSR support, Manantar Art is initiating a programme aimed at creating opportunities for recognition and expression for neurodiverse children and young creators. The initiative seeks to expand the role of art beyond the gallery space and make it a medium for inclusion, identity and social participation.
Launch of the Coffee Table Book
During the exhibition, ‘Main Shunya Hun – Manantar Art Collective Coffee Table Book, Edition 1.0’ will also be launched. More than an event catalogue, the publication has been conceived as a visual and archival document of the exhibition’s creative journey.
It brings together participating artists, selected artworks, stories of the artists and the conceptual framework of the exhibition. In this way, even after the three-day exhibition concludes, its experience and ideas will continue to live on as a lasting document.
An Opening that Brings Art and Social Responsibility Together
The opening ceremony is expected to bring together prominent personalities from the worlds of art, culture, public life and social work. Padma Shri Tilak Gitai will be the Chief Guest, while Padma Shri Dr Chandrakant Pandav, internationally recognised as the “Iodine Man of India”, will be the Guest of Honour.
Their presence will reinforce the exhibition’s larger dialogue between creativity, achievement and social responsibility.
The opening is expected to bring together participating artists, senior artists, collectors, art enthusiasts, interior designers, academicians, wellness experts and members of the wider creative community.
Main Shunya Hun seeks to look at Shunya not as an end or a state of emptiness but as a point of departure for infinite possibilities. The exhibition offers viewers an opportunity to journey from visible forms towards inner experiences—where ‘Shunya’ is not empty but a gateway to infinity.
-By Dr Ved Prakash Bhardwaj
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