Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawings IX

Nikhil Chopra

• The New Museum (lobby gallery)
• 235 Bowery
• Wednesday, November 4 - Sunday, November 8, times vary

As part of his exhibition “Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawings IX,” Nikhil Chopra embodies the semi-autobiographical, largely imagined Victorian draughtsman Yog Raj Chitrakar. As an ambiguous past collides with an unstable present, daily actions—washing, eating, sleeping, shaving—are transformed into ritualistic spectacle. Yog Raj Chitrakar reveals the process of documenting what he sees while exploring self-portraiture, autobiography, history, fantasy, and sexuality.

Chopra will activate the lobby gallery, now a turn-of the-century tableau vivant, for five days (November 4–8, 2009) as Yog Raj Chitrakar. Visitors are encouraged to return often to witness the evolution of Yog Raj Chitrakar’s character as he explores, documents, and responds to the changing face of New York City. Docmentation from three previous performances will also be on view.

Nikhil Chopra’s work was included in “Indian Highway” at the Serpentine Gallery (2008–09), “Making Worlds” at the 53rd Venice Biennale (2009), and “Marina Abramovic Presents,” the Manchester International Festival (2009). He lives and works in Mumbai.

Presented by the New Museum. Curated by Eungie Joo. “Yog Raj Chitrakar: Memory Drawing IX” is made possible by Chatterjee & Lal. Additional support provided by the Toby Devan Lewis Emerging Artists Exhibitions Fund. The exhibition runs October 28, 2009 – Feb 2, 2010 at the New Museum.

Nov. 4, 12-6pm
Nov. 5, 6 , 12-9pm
Nov. 7, 8, 12-6pm

FREE with museum admission.