SEVEN YARDS OF BLUE

Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art presents Seven Yards of Blue, the debut solo exhibition by TEAS award recipient Meenakshi Nihalani, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha correspondence — a moving reflection on resistance, justice, and collective memory.

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art

To commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s 156th birth anniversary, Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art (AMCA) unveils Seven Yards of Blue, the first solo exhibition by contemporary artist Meenakshi Ni halani, recipient of AMCA’s premier The Emerging Artist Solo (TEAS) award. Curated by Anupa Mehta and sup ported by Hampi Art Labs, the exhibition runs at the gallery’s Colaba space until October 25, 2025.

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art

Drawing inspiration from Gandhi’s correspondence around the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917—India’s first civil disobedience movement that sought to end the exploitation of indigo farmers—Meenakshi’s immersive installation reinter prets a pivotal moment in the nation’s history through the lens of contemporary art. Combining textiles, sculpture, and spatial storytelling, the works chronicle the indigo farmers’ endurance under colonial oppression, offering a layered medi tation on the ideas of self-reliance, justice, and resistance.

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art

“The TEAS award is about amplifying voices that engage VOL 8 ISSUE 1 deeply with the social and political realities of our time,” said Anupa Mehta, gallerist and curator. “We are honoured to present Meenakshi’s powerful debut during Gandhi Jayanti month — it allows us to reflect on how the spirit of resistance continues to shape our collective conscious ness. With TEAS, we hope to nurture many such artists who bring new perspectives to the discourse of contemporary art.”

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art

As the inaugural recipient of the TEAS award, Meenak shi Nihalani’s work marks the beginning of an ongoing com mitment by AMCA to support and mentor emerging artists whose practices intersect with critical socio-political and economic narratives.

The exhibition is expected to draw art collectors, critics, and cultural enthusiasts, eager to witness the confluence of art, activism, and historical reflection — where threads of indigo become metaphors for resilience, and seven yards of fabric unfold into an enduring story of freedom and faith.

Photo courtesy: Anupa Mehta Contemporary Art