Shared Ground: Forms of Belonging, a solo exhibition by noted sculptor G. Reghu, is currently underway at ICIA Gallery in Mumbai’s Kala Ghoda, marking the artist’s return to the city after a five-year hiatus. Presented by Giftex, the exhibition opened on July 7 and will continue until July 10, 2026, bringing together 36 ceramic stoneware sculptures created between 2021 and 2024.
Known for his deeply introspective approach to sculpture, Reghu’s latest body of work explores themes of belonging, memory, and humanity’s intrinsic connection with the earth. Working primarily with clay, the artist foregrounds material honesty and tactile presence, allowing each sculpture to retain visible traces of its making—ash, smoke, and the unpredictability of the kiln. The resulting forms, rendered in muted, earthy tones, evoke quietude and stillness, resisting spectacle in favour of contemplative engagement.
The sculptures inhabit a space between abstraction and figuration, depicting human forms that are seated, crouching, or resting—gestures that suggest intimacy and groundedness. Rather than assigning titles, Reghu leaves each work open-ended, encouraging viewers to form personal interpretations and emotional connections. This curatorial decision aligns with the exhibition’s central premise: that belonging is both deeply personal and universally shared.
Drawing from decades of engagement with rural and indigenous communities in regions such as Wayanad in Kerala and Bastar in Chhattisgarh, Reghu’s visual language reflects an enduring sensitivity to ecological and cultural interdependence. Subtle stylistic elements, including elongated ears and simplified facial features, reference these influences without becoming ethnographic representations, instead functioning as meditations on human presence and memory.
The artist’s practice is also shaped by Gandhian ideals and the architectural philosophy of Laurie Baker, evident in his use of locally sourced materials and traditional wood-firing techniques. Each sculpture is fired at high temperatures using natural oxides, producing surfaces that are both organic and unpredictable, reinforcing the elemental relationship between artist, material, and environment.
Speaking about the exhibition, Siddharth Sivakumar, Director of Curation and Artist Relations at ICIA Gallery, noted that while contemporary sculpture often leans towards monumentality and experimentation, Reghu’s work remains committed to the human figure. “His sculptures are disarmingly quiet and deeply vulnerable, carrying an entire world within subtle shifts of posture and expression,” he said.
Shared Ground: Forms of Belonging offers a reflective pause within Mumbai’s bustling art calendar, inviting viewers to engage with sculpture through intuition and stillness. In doing so, it presents a poignant meditation on the shared ties between body, land, and collective existence.
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