‘MOTHERING’ at VHC Pune: Art that Redefines Care, Kinship, and Belonging
‘MOTHERING’ at VHC Pune: Art that Redefines Care, Kinship, and Belonging
On the evening of August 2, 2025, Vida Heydari Contemporary (VHC) opened its doors to MOTHERING, a group exhibition that dares to reimagine what it means to nurture, protect, and hold space for one another. Running until September 5, the show moves far beyond the idea of “mother” as merely biological—it becomes a verb, a political act, and a radical gesture of resilience.
Featuring works by the Aravani Art Project, Chathuri Nissansala, Liactuallee, Roghayeh Najdi, and Shivangi Ladha, the exhibition embraces diverse narratives, from queer subcultures and chosen families to matriarchal traditions and community care networks. These artists bring their own histories, mediums, and geographies, weaving together personal and collective experiences into an intimate visual dialogue.
The Aravani Art Project, known for transforming public spaces into safe, inclusive canvases, stands alongside Chathuri Nissansala’s multidisciplinary explorations of gender and nationalism. Liactuallee invites audiences into lush, speculative worlds born from overlooked ecosystems, while Roghayeh Najdi’s ethereal figures speak of absence and suppressed identities in Iran. Shivangi Ladha’s delicate printmaking challenges social divisions, envisioning belonging that transcends borders.
MOTHERING is not just an exhibition—it’s an embrace. It asks: Who do we care for? Who cares for us? And what could the world look like if care itself was the foundation of our communities?
The show opens with a preview on August 2, 7–9 PM, inviting visitors to witness mothering as art, action, and possibility.
