VENICE -- In a historic first, the State Archives of Venice has opened its doors to the public for an art exhibition featuring the renowned Indian artist Dayanita Singh. Known as an "off-set artist," Singh has long sought to transcend the traditional confines of photography displayed on walls, opting instead for more dynamic formats that incorporate serialization, custom framing, and book objects.
ARCHIVIO, located in the picturesque Campo dei Frari square within the San Polo district, invites visitors of the Venice Biennale to explore a treasure trove of documents that span over a millennium. These include wills, contracts, and other official records that preserve the rich narrative of one of the world's most historic cities.
Singh expressed her belief in creating her own systems rather than relying on traditional publishing or gallery frameworks. "I knew that I could make my own systems, that I didn't have to depend on the distribution of the publishing world or the gallery world," she shared during a past interview.
This exhibition represents a culmination of her career-long ambition to innovate in the art world. Singh undertook the challenge of organizing the event without significant institutional funding, engaging in negotiations with various Italian archives from Naples to Venice. She also found support from individual patrons who share her passion for exploring new frontiers in photography.
"It was an experiment to see if it was possible to really work with the friendship economy and create something outside the very commerce-driven biennale time," Singh commented in a recent video interview. Despite initial doubts about attendance, the exhibition has drawn a crowd.
Singh's fascination with archives is evident, as she continues to broaden our understanding of how exhibitions can be constructed. She has collaborated with local art students, offering mentorship in exchange for their roles as docents.
Curated by Andrea Anastasio, the exhibition features collapsible wooden pillars adorned with square-format, black-and-white photographs that evoke a sense of history and narrate Singh's 25-year love affair with Italy. Following its closure on July 31, the exhibition will travel to the Museo Nazionale Etrusco di Villa Giulia in Rome, then to the Museo d'Arte Orientale in Turin, and finally to the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in New Delhi, adapting to each venue's unique context.
While the focus is primarily on Italian archives, Singh incorporates documents from India, where historical records are often wrapped in vibrant cloths that fade over time, revealing ghostly edges that tell untold stories.
Singh's work has been exhibited in major museums globally, yet she thrives when faced with challenges. Her latest endeavor illustrates that archives are not static; they are vibrant entities, continuously evolving and renewing.
