Artist Talk: Monday, October 14, 5:30-7:30 pm.
Exhibition on display December 7, 2024.
This fall, the Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA) in Birmingham, Alabama, is hosting a powerful exhibition by Manjari Sharma titled Tat Tvam Asi—a Sanskrit phrase that translates to “You Are That.” The show delves into the spiritual connections between humanity and the cosmos, presenting a visually stunning exploration of death, rebirth, and the mysteries of the universe.
Sharma, originally from Mumbai and now based in Los Angeles, is known for her thought-provoking photography, which merges personal identity, mythology, and ritual. Her acclaimed Darshan series, which reimagines traditional Hindu deities through photography, was a turning point in her career, receiving high praise from critics and being exhibited worldwide. In 2023, she showcased Expanding Darshan at the Birmingham Museum of Art, combining ancient Hindu iconography with contemporary perspectives.
Tat Tvam Asi takes Sharma’s creative journey even deeper. Over the course of two years, Sharma worked with AEIVA to create a collection of life-sized, intricately constructed sets, all photographed on location in India. These images are a reflection of her own personal grief and spiritual inquiry following her mother’s passing. They explore Hindu rituals around death and the afterlife while weaving in speculative fiction—imagining how humanity’s scientific curiosity about the universe intersects with spiritual beliefs about the afterlife. Through these works, Sharma offers a profound meditation on her mother’s transition from life to death, creating a fusion of the personal and the cosmic.
In addition to this exhibition, Sharma will debut a companion show titled Looking for a Silver Lining, which opens on October 16, 2024, at the UAB Brain Aging and Memory Hub. This exhibition chronicles her family’s ten-year struggle with frontotemporal dementia, presenting a poignant reflection on memory, identity, and loss. The project was developed in partnership with UAB’s Arts in Medicine program, further bridging the gap between art, healthcare, and healing.
Sharma’s artistic achievements have gained widespread recognition, with her work featured in major publications such as The New York Times, Vice Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, and NPR. Her photography has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and festivals across the globe, including permanent collections at prestigious institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, and the Birmingham Museum of Art. Most recently, Sharma was awarded the 2024 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, cementing her status as a significant voice in contemporary art.
If you’re in the Birmingham area, don’t miss the chance to experience Tat Tvam Asi at AEIVA, where Sharma’s work will challenge and inspire viewers with its evocative exploration of life, death, and the infinite universe beyond.
Location:
Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts (AEIVA)
1221 10th Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 975-6436
AEIVA@uab.edu