Mumbai artist Bina Aziz curates Alchemy of Light with eight contemporary artists

A first-of-its-kind showcase of artworks, all curated around the technique of metal leafing, will be on display in the city next month. Eight artists from Mumbai are set to come together for this show titled ‘Alchemy of Light’, a group exhibition that will be held in Worli from April 12 to May 11. Curated by artist Bina Aziz, the exhibition brings together a diverse roster of creators, including Bina, Arzan Khambatta, Venkatesh Pate, Sharvari Luth, Archana Srivastava, Laila Khan, Jaya Lamba and Shola Carletti, each interpreting the theme through their own visual language.

A SHARED LANGUAGE OF LIGHT AND METAL
At the heart of ‘Alchemy of Light’ lies the transformative quality of metal leafing, using gold, silver, copper and champagne finishes to create works that respond dynamically to light.
“Each artist brings their own aura, their own creativity and their own colour to the canvas and the art that glitters here is, in essence, gold,” says curator Bina Aziz, who will also be displaying her own works, describing the conceptual core of the show. “The materials, provided by Shehzad Khan, have enabled artists to experiment with a wide spectrum of tones and textures. The use of gold, silver, copper and champagne leafing brings a sense of opulence while allowing the works to remain fluid and alive, shifting with perspective and light itself,” Bina adds. She has been one of the first artists from the city who has worked with leafing over a decade ago and showcased her works in a solo exhibition.

EXPERIMENTATION ACROSS MEDIUMS For sculptor Arzan Khambatta, the exhibition marks yet another step in an ongoing journey of creative exploration. “Every creative show like this is a starting point for me… if you have done something and you love it, it becomes the beginning of many more works,” he says. His pieces for the show combine wood, resin, metal and leafing, resulting in layered, tactile forms.

Meanwhile, artist Laila Khan approaches the theme from a more introspective space. “A painting or sculpture represents the inner being of an artist over many days. I am working towards an inner flame where materials like gold leaf reflect light. Through meditation and quiet depth, I am trying to bring that luminosity into my work,” she explains, adding that gold leafing lends a sense of sacredness to Indian art traditions.

TEXTURE, FRAGILITY AND RENEWAL
The exhibition will be held at artist Archana Srivastava's Les Trésors Art Gallery. “This is the first exhibition using gold leafing in my gallery, and I am excited about it,” she says. Her own series, titled ‘Broken Yet Blossoming’, explores contrasts, juxtaposing the rough texture of jute with the smooth sheen of gold. “We are all broken in some way, yet there is immense potential to blossom,” she reflects.

ART THAT SHIFTS WITH LIGHT
What sets ‘Alchemy of Light’ apart is not just its material focus but its interaction with the viewer. As light falls on each piece, surfaces shimmer, shift and transform, making the experience fluid and ever-changing. With its blend of introspection, experimentation and visual opulence, the exhibition aims to offer audiences more than just a viewing, it invites them into a dialogue with light itself. As Mumbai’s art calendar gears up for the summer, ‘Alchemy of Light’ promises to stand out as a radiant confluence of creativity, material innovation and spiritual depth.