L: Red Trail I, R: Memory Card (B)
“Gallery Pristine Contemporary presents Chromatic Currents, the first-ever solo exhibition in India by internationally acclaimed Singaporean artist Kumari Nahappan, opening on Friday, 12th September 2025. Curated by independent curator John Tung, the exhibition runs until Thursday, 30th October 2025.
Known for her monumental public works such as Saga at Changi Airport, Nutmeg & Mace at ION Orchard, and the 45-metre bronze mural Pembungaan at OUE Bayfront, Nahappan is one of Southeast Asia’s most celebrated contemporary artists. Her practice spans painting, sculpture, and installation, transforming humble seeds, spices, and natural forms into large-scale meditations on time, memory, and interconnectedness.
Chromatic Currents draws on the ancient spice routes that connected India and Southeast Asia, tracing the migration of nutmeg, mace, and pepper alongside myths, iconography, and devotional traditions. Through vibrant canvases and sculptures, Nahappan situates these forms within a contemporary framework, celebrating both chromatic energy and cultural memory.
Curator John Tung, recognised for his work with the Singapore Biennale and other international platforms, frames this exhibition as a dialogue between history and the present. By situating Nahappan’s practice within a cross-cultural context, Tung highlights how her art bridges geography, heritage, and lived experience.
Baby Asana Two
Over her three-decade career, Nahappan has exhibited widely at institutions such as the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo), Seoul Art Centre, Museum der Kulturen (Basel), Tropenmuseum (Amsterdam), and in the collateral programme of the Venice Biennale. With Chromatic Currents, she now brings her practice into dialogue with India for the very first time.
The exhibition also presents works that explore cosmic energies, ritual, and the cycles of time. A black-and-white room honours Chandra (Moon) and Shani (Saturn) in a suite titled Pooja, where opposing colours evoke both duality and unity. Playful Cosmic Conches reference the spiralling cosmos, while Monument, first shown in 1996 and now reimagined, offers a sanctuary of fabric, mirror, and turmeric amidst the urban skyline. At the entrance, Dance of Surya and Auld Lang Syne, created two decades apart, converge to invite reflection on memory, renewal, and the rhythms of existence."
Anise One
About Kumari Nahappan:
Malaysian-born Singaporean artist Kumari Nahappan is one of Southeast Asia’s leading contemporary artists, known for her vibrant canvases, sculptures, and large-scale installations. Her practice, rooted in nature and cultural memory, has received international recognition including the Ksatria Seni Award (2004) and Artist of the Year at the Shanghai Art Fair (2011).
Curated by John Tung, Kumari Nahappan's Chromatic Currents will be on display from 12th September to 30th October 2025 at Gallery Pristine Contemporary.
Date 9-9-2025