Outside In brings together the works of Meera Mukherjee and Jaidev Baghel for the first time, offering a compelling exploration of artistic exchange, collaboration, and transformation through the medium of metal casting. Both artists, working from the margins of their respective worlds, challenged established definitions of “artist” and “artisan,” creating new visual languages and possibilities through their practices.
The exhibition traces the pivotal encounter between Meera Mukherjee—a sculptor and painter from Calcutta—and Jaidev Baghel, a Ghadwa sculptor from Bastar, Chhattisgarh. Through her government-led research into traditional metal casting techniques across India, Meera’s engagement with Dhokra casters profoundly shaped her practice, leading her towards community-based and collaborative work. At the same time, this interaction enabled Jaidev Baghel to move beyond inherited traditions and establish himself as an artist in his own right.
Alongside metal sculptures, the exhibition features a textile work by Meera Mukherjee on public display for the first time, as well as collaborative works created with the women and children she worked closely with. Accompanied by a richly illustrated publication and a short film, Outside In documents the journey of artworks from casting workshops to museum spaces. Designed by Valentina Abenavoli and featuring photographs by Philippe Calia and Jaisingh Nageswaran, the publication serves as both a visual narrative and critical reflection, while the film explores the origins, evolution, and future of metal casting practices, including the legacy of Jaidev Baghel’s workshop and family.