WITH HER INNOVATIVE AND INTRICATE WORKS, BHARTI KHER HAS BEEN A TRAILBLAZER IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART, CHALLENGING TRADITIONAL NOTIONS OF IDENTITY, CULTURE AND FEMININITY. BUT BEYOND HER ACCLAIMED PAINTINGS, TEXTILES, SCULPTURES, COLLAGES & INSTALLATIONS, WHAT INSIGHTS CAN WE GLEAN ABOUT THE VISIONARY ARTIST BEHIND THE ART? IN THIS ARTICLE, WE UNVEIL 10 ESSENTIAL FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT ARTIST BHARTI KHER, A CREATIVE FORCE WHOSE LIFE AND WORK RESONATE WITH PROFOUND DEPTH & COMPLEXITY.

1. She Moved To India Because Of A Coin Flip

Artist Bharti Kher. Courtesy of The Womb.

Bharti Kher was born in London to Indian immigrant. At 22, she faced a pivotal decision whether to move to New York or New Delhi. She decided to flip a coin (Heads - New York, Tails - New Delhi), and fate led her to New Delhi. This seemingly random choice not only changed her geographical location but also profoundly influenced her artistic development. In India, she was exposed to a rich cultural tapestry that would later permeate her work. She found inspiration in the country's myths, traditions and the vibrant chaos of everyday life. Moreover, her move to India was also influenced by matters of the heart; she met her future husband, Indian artist Subodh Gupta, shortly after arriving. This personal connection further anchored her to India and its cultural landscape.

2. She Collects Found Objects

Bharti Kher, “A Wonderful Anarchy”. Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

In her installations, Bharti Kher frequently incorporates found objects, giving new life to discarded materials. This practice reflects her belief in sustainability and the importance of recontextualizing everyday items.

3. She Uses Sound To Create Immersive Experiences

Bharti Kher, “The Body Is A Place” Exhibition. Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

While primarily known for her visual art, Bharti Kher has occasionally experimented with sound installations that receive far less attention than her physical works. In several exhibitions, she has incorporated audio elements ranging from recorded conversations to ambient sounds of domestic spaces, creating multisensory environments that expand the experiential dimension of her art.

4. She Highlights The Narratives Of Marginalized Women

Bharti Kher, “Six Women”. Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

One of the most compelling aspects of Bharti Kher's work is her engagement with sex workers as subjects for her art. In her series "Six Women" Kher cast life-sized sculptures of sitting female figures, who were sex workers paid to sit for her. This self-conscious transaction of money and bodily experience highlights the vulnerability and strength of these women. Kher's work with sex workers is not merely about their nakedness but about the narratives and experiences they carry. By involving them in her artistic process, Bharti Kher challenges societal perceptions of these women and offers a platform for their stories to be told. This aspect of her work is a powerful commentary on the intersection of art, identity and social issues.

5. She Uses Saree Portraits As Personal Tributes

Bharti Kher, “Cloak for MM”. Courtesy of Nature Morte.

Bharti Kher is known for her unique saree portraits, which she creates using resin-dipped sarees. These portraits are not just artistic representations but also personal tributes. For example, her saree portrait "Cloak for MM " was a tribute to her close friend and renowned sculptor Mrinalini Mukherjee who passed away in 2015. Bharti Kher used Mrinalini Mukherjee's own sarees to create the portrait, adding a layer of personal significance to the artwork. This approach highlights her ability to blend personal narratives with artistic expression.

6. She Is Committed To A 30-Year Art Project

Bharti Kher, “Virus Series” (2010). Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

Bharti Kher's "The Virus Series" is a long-term project that she started in 2010 and plans to complete by 2039. This series is a swirling mass of bindi artwork combined with text, through which she makes predictions and explores various themes such as being alive, sexuality, and contemporary politics. The project is marked by her age, starting when she was 40 and continuing until she turns 70. This ambitious and ongoing series reflects her commitment to long-term artistic exploration and growth.

7. She Has Collaborated With A Luxury Fashion Brand

Bharti Kher, “Lady Dior Bag”. Courtesy of Dior.

In 2020, Bharti Kher collaborated with the luxury fashion house Christian Dior to design Lady Dior bags using her signature bindi motif. She described the collaboration as seamless, highlighting her ability to blend different cultural and artistic elements.

8. She Is Inspired By Ovid’s Heroides

Bharti Kher, “I've Seen More Things Than I Dare To Remember” Bindis On Paper 70.3 x 83 cm. Courtesy of Perrotin.

Bharti Kher’s bindi series draws inspiration from Ovid’s Heroides, a collection of fictional letters written from the perspectives of women to their lovers. She interprets these letters through abstract patterns in her bindi art.

9. She Has A Fascination With Hybrid Creatures

Bharti Kher, “The Hybrid Series”. Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

Many of Bharti Kher’s works feature hybrid creatures that blur the lines between human, animal and divine. These fantastical beings serve as metaphors for the complexities of identity and the interconnectedness of all life forms.

10. She Is The First Indian Contemporary Female Artist To Achieve High Auction Price

Bharti Kher, “The Skin Speaks A Language Not Its Own” Bindis on life-size fibreglass elephant. 148 x 432 cm x 183 cm. Courtesy of Bharti Kher.

Bharti Kher's sculpture "The Skin Speaks A Language Not Its Own" (2006) is one of her most famous works. This life-sized fiberglass elephant covered in sperm-shaped bindis fetched a record price of US$1.5 million at an auction in 2010, making her the first Indian contemporary female artist to achieve such high auction prices. The work combines two potent symbols of Indian culture—the bindi and the elephant—creating a piece that invites multiple interpretations.

Bharti Kher, A TRAILBLAZER IN CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ART, WAS BORN IN 1969 IN LONDON, ENGLAND AND LATER MADE INDIA HER HOME, WHERE SHE HAS BECOME A DEFINING VOICE IN THE GLOBAL ART SCENE.  HER GROUNDBREAKING PRACTICE SPANS SCULPTURE, INSTALLATION AND PAINTING OFTEN INCORPORATING HER SIGNATURE BINDI MOTIFS. A RECENTLY PUBLISHED MONOGRAPH, "BHARTI KHER: MATTER" PROVIDES AN ILLUMINATING EXPLORATION OF THE ARTIST'S PROVOCATIVE AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING BODY OF WORK THAT ADDRESSES ISSUES OF IDENTITY, GENDER AND CULTURAL DISPLACEMENT.