The exhibition 'Abandoned' at Delhi's Gallery Threshold showcases the final works of legendary sculptor Latika Katt, bridging the gap between physical labor and spiritual reflection. The collection features intricate bronze and stone pieces alongside intimate graphite drawings.

  • The exhibition 'Abandoned' features the final works of sculptor Latika Katt.
  • Works include bronze forms embedded in stone and intimate graphite drawings.
  • The collection explores themes of nature, decay, and the transient nature of life.

In the quiet corridors of Gallery Threshold in Delhi, a profound silence resides—not the silence of emptiness, but the contemplative stillness of a life well-lived. The exhibition titled 'Abandoned' serves as a gentle yet powerful farewell to the eminent sculptor Latika Katt, whose passing in 2025 left a void in the Indian contemporary art scene.

The exhibition invites viewers to engage with the physical reality of her craft. One can almost feel the hands that chiseled the stone and hear the rhythmic intensity of her creative process. A film by Muzaffar Ali loops in the gallery, adding a cinematic layer to the experience of her legacy.

A Fusion of Stone and Bronze

The centerpiece of the show involves bronze forms, initially cast in wax, which have been meticulously embedded into heavy stone blocks. These pieces evoke the feeling of artifacts unearthed from an ancient archaeological site—part relic, part architectural fragment, and part memory. This juxtaposition highlights the tension between the permanence of stone and the fluidity of bronze.

"My sculptures are all about assimilation of my feelings and reactions to what is happening around me and what touches my heart and mind." — Latika Katt

Curator Tunty Chauhan notes that these works, created toward the end of Katt's life, carry a deep sense of finality. They reflect her lifelong fascination with natural processes such as erosion, weathering, and decay, concepts deeply influenced by her time living and working in Varanasi.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that Latika Katt was a trailblazer in a male-dominated field. Born in 1948, she belonged to a generation where very few women ventured into the physically demanding world of sculpture. By working with diverse media—from marble and bronze to terracotta and even cow dung—she redefined the boundaries of what a sculptor could achieve in India.

Beyond the monumental stone works, the exhibition reveals a softer, more intimate side of the artist through her graphite drawings. These sketches, made in the solitude of her studio, capture the ephemeral beauty of light on water and the delicate curves of tree branches, offering a glimpse into the initial sparks of her creative genius.

Did You Know?: To master the nuances of the human form, Latika Katt used to study corpses to better understand the underlying structures of living faces.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Where can I view the 'Abandoned' exhibition?
Answer: The exhibition is currently on view at Gallery Threshold, C-221, Sarvodya Enclave, Delhi, until September 12.

Question 2: What materials did Latika Katt primarily use?
Answer: She was a versatile artist who worked with stone, marble, bronze, terracotta, paper, and even cow dung.