Making Life Out of Ruins

/7 min read
Abdulla PA shows how memory, nature and everyday materials can take on new meaning
Making Life Out of Ruins
Abdulla PA at Travancore Palace, New Delhi (Photo: Raul Irani) 

 IN A WORLD that often operates in extremes, we tend to evaluate the worth of an object based solely on its functionality. This creates a predica­ment where we assign little to no value to items that are deemed ordinary, dis­carded, or unfit for their intended purpose. By limiting our relationships with objects, we also limit our connection to the natural world around us. The artist Abdulla PA challenges this very perspective. In his first solo exhibition at Travancore Palace in Delhi, titled Ruins of an Embrace, curated by Amitesh Grover and presented by Gallery Dotwalk, he urges viewers to adopt a fresh approach, one that allows objects to exist beyond their utility. A space where an object's value transcends its practical use, embracing instead a more sensitive and intangible merit.