Jitish Kallat

Jitish Kallat is a contemporary Indian artist from Mumbai. He is celebrated for his multimedia practice in painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. His art reflects the city's energy and diversity, merging popular Indian advertising aesthetics with social and political commentary. Kallat's impact extends globally, with his works displayed in prestigious institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. Rooted in his native Mumbai, Kallat's art invites viewers to ponder the complexities of modern society and envision a more equitable future.

This permanent video installation, spanning 100 meters and running through 5 floors of MixC in Shenzhen, utilizes LED technology to create a dynamic display resembling an illuminated scroll. Shenzhen, once a small fishing village, underwent rapid transformation into a bustling mega-city dubbed the "Silicon Valley of China" after being designated as China's first special economic zone in 1980.

The installation features alternating text in English and Hanzi script, resembling hand-written Chinese ink calligraphy. The text describes a causal loop where a scribe travels back in time to witness the city's transformation into prosperity. In a paradoxical twist, the scribe then becomes the city's voice, inspiring its residents to enact the very changes that motivated its time travel, creating a loop that conflates past, present, and future.

Integrating LED video panels into these artworks was a challenge when working with its size of 0.5mx100m across the 5 floors. We are proud to have helped fabricate this sculpture and bring the artists vision to reality.