Marking a new chapter in their decade-long collaboration, GALLERYSKE and PHOTOINK will inaugurate their second shared space in Defence Colony, New Delhi, this February. The two galleries, known for their experimental alliance that began in 2016, continue to advance a distinctive collegial model that bridges contemporary art and photography under one roof.
To inaugurate the new venue, GALLERYSKE will present A Breath Held Long, a new body of work by celebrated artist Sudarshan Shetty, while PHOTOINK will unveil Flashback, featuring vintage photographs by Mumbai-based photographer Ketaki Sheth.
Shetty’s exhibition unfolds as a poetic meditation on the relationship between body, breath, and urban existence. Through a blend of film, sculpture, and text, the artist transforms the act of breathing into a metaphor for life’s fragile persistence within the modern city. His assemblages of sculptural forms and materials act as physical afterimages of narrated time and memory.
Sudarshan Shetty | No Title (from Breath held long) | Marble dust and epoxy, reclaimed teak wood | Variable dimensions | Image courtesy: GALLERYSKE | Photo credit: Subhash Jadhav
In contrast, Sheth’s Flashback turns the lens toward the bustling film industries of Bombay and Madras in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The black-and-white silver gelatin prints offer a candid yet lyrical view of film sets and personalities—both aspiring extras and established stars—capturing the human rhythm behind the gloss of cinematic glamour.
The exhibitions will run simultaneously between GALLERYSKE and PHOTOINK’s existing and new spaces, expanding access for audiences to experience the dynamic interplay of contemporary visual forms. “This collaboration sustains a conversation across disciplines,” said the galleries in a joint statement, “reflecting our shared commitment to experimentation and long-term artistic engagement.”
Founded by Sunitha Kumar Emmart in 2003, GALLERYSKE has been a vital platform for artists exploring the contemporary Indian condition through complex material and conceptual practices. Established in 2001 by Devika Daulet-Singh, PHOTOINK has played a pioneering role in developing India’s photographic culture through its dual practice as a gallery, photo agency, and publisher.
Cover image: Sudarshan Shetty | Breath held long (still from the video) 16mm Celluloid Film | Image courtesy: GALLERYSKE
Film commissioned by Serendipity Arts for Serendipity Arts Festival 2025
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
