The stark social inequality in India, shaped by its rigid caste hierarchy, drives the artistic practice of Amol Patil, a conceptual artist and performer who navigates various media, including drawing, painting, installation, video, and kinetic art. Patil conceived Reminiscence, commissioned for the 14th Mercosul Biennial, as a resonance of his ancestors’ legacy. His grandfather, a poet, and his father, a theater activist, were part of Powada, a group of performers composed of street sweepers who had no fixed venue and traveled between cities to stage their performances.
Structured as a sensory installation based on the cartographic traces of the group’s pilgrimage, the work evokes the power and vibrancy of this artistic expression while also inducing a meditative state and raising awareness. The artist’s work echoes the strength of art as a manifesto and a vehicle for mobilization.
Diego Groisman
Amol K. Patil (India, 1987) is an artist whose work explores themes of migration, labor, and the lived experiences of working-class communities. His artistic practice includes painting, sculpture, performance, and video. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including at the Hayward Gallery, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Documenta 15, Yokohama Triennale, and the Centre Pompidou). He lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
