Jeevan Chakra : Multicity Arts Project, Curator Laitka Gupta

Uma Nair

January 2016 saw an exciting programme of cultural activity across three cities -Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi – all part of Medicine Corner. The programme was an initiative of one of the UK’s most innovative cultural venues, Wellcome Collection – part of the Wellcome Trust, a global health charity. Medicine Corner explored India’s rich plurality of cultures of medicine, healing and wellbeing through exhibitions, live public events and educational outreach. ‘Jeevanchakra’ curated by Latika Gupta was an epic rendition of some of the finest names in the art circuit. ArpitaSingh, Nilima Sheikh, Gauri Gill and Mithu Sen. ‘Jeevanchakra’ explores the life cycle of the human body and the historic, social and political conditions of particular places that shape the relationship of the body with medicine and healing and the rites around birth and death. It is conceptualised around three events: birth, the life of the mortal body and its demise or death. Birth, aging, disease and death are universal phenomena. However these events are also deeply cultural and this exhibition explores individual and community responses to these. For example, childbirth is deeply affected by differing access to medicine and by the particular practices of rural and urban India.