Sheela Gowda in Munich: mica in the cottage, hair on the bumper

chrome flash end bumpers on the walls, that's why twisted black cords. Also from the ceiling such cords hang. Knotted, intertwined and linked, you fill in loops and balls a lot of room and floor. What is it with the work of "Behold" of the Indian artist Sheela Gowda to yourself? The black ropes are made of hair, from a total of around forty kilometres, the so-called "temple hair", which is released, when devout Hindus can be according to the old Ritual bald scissors, to solicit the victim of hair the fulfillment of a wish splendor.

Today, this Scoop serve millions of business: tons of hair on a monthly basis, auctioned by the temples, then washed, sorted, and after Italy sent to be processed there, wigs and hair extensions, and in the whole of Europe sold. Remains of the ropes that wrap Indian drivers as talismans to your bumper caused.

With cow manure

"Behold" painted Sheela Gowdas contribution to the Venice Biennale in 2009 and, appropriately, was installed in the Corderie, the historic rope factory of the Arsenale, and at the heart of the Venetian commercial and military shipping. On loan from London's Tate Modern, the work is currently in the Kunstbau Munich Lenbach house. There the curator, Eva Hutt leek on the occasion of the awarding of the Maria-Lassnig-prize to the artist whose spatial Arrangements and images, a remarkable Show set up. Her painting studies were completed in 1957 in Bhadravati-born artist at the Royal College in London; it is possible to assume, that your views on the social characteristics of India such as the caste system or the contempt of the woman in 1986, had sharpened in comparison to the West at the time of their return.

Above all, they are terrified of a political process that began at the time: The right-wing conservative, Hindu nationalist movement, whose political party is in power BJP is currently under Prime Minister Narendra modi, started with the defamation of heretics, especially the Muslim citizens. As its icon, the BJP exploited the sacred animal of the Hindus, the cow. Who do you kill to eat meat or cows, and attacks, allegedly the Nation. As Muslims, pork is known to be taboo, beef, but the food belongs to, it is inevitable that the conflict, especially as many of the States of India prohibit, in the meantime, the slaughter of cows.

Sensitively, but without sentimentality

Against this Background, finished Gowda your figurative painting in Oil and painted in a subtle criticism with cow dung. The Material of the fuel as a building -, - and fuel serves as a purifying substance in Holy smokes Fire it, also the fabric of your first installations of hundreds of hand-shaped patties.

The agitational leg does not swing, the artist, it documents, rather than commented on. Sensitive without being sentimental, they observed traditions in a state of upheaval, and fundamental changes due to the exploding globalized economy of India. "What yet remains", a beautiful structure of cut, flat-rolled metal barrels with circular holes, prior to that, shells that have been shaped with a Hammer and chisel knocked out of the wheels for use on construction sites, standing there all ready found, good piece of Arte Povera.