Initial Access
Units 19 & 20,
Calibre Industrial Park, Laches Close,
Off Enterprise Drive, Four Ashes,
Wolverhampton
Passage to India Part II
New Indian Art from the Frank Cohen Collection
March 17-August 1, 2009

Following the huge success of Passage to India Part I which showcased new Indian art from the Frank Cohen Collection in March 2008, Passage to India Part II is the sixth exhibition at Initial Access and will feature a further selection of new, exciting and innovative painting and sculpture by contemporary Indian art stars.

Asia's art scene has come to the fore in the past five years, driven by the continent's rapid growth and emerging talent. Contemporary art from India is now undoubtedly the focus of more interest in the West than ever before, providing a platform for the most important sculptors and painters who have become a prominent force in the international contemporary art world.

Frank Cohen has been among the first to show works from India in the UK. These artists have come to the world’s attention for their provocative work which combines an understanding of the western canon of art but retains its cultural origins — a contemporary extension of the past that remains so vital to the themes and concepts in the work.

The artists in the show have emerged as leading lights in the contemporary art scene. Subodh Gupta consciously plays on clichéd images of everyday life in India and is best known for his sculptures made from accumulations of everyday objects. T.V. Santhosh’s subject matter deals with violence and injustice. His paintings are a comment on inequality, famine, terrorism and war. Jitish Kallat’s work incorporates modern technology and popular essentials with profound subject
matters and often autobiographical elements while Reena Saini Kallat’s work often brings the intimate imagery and objects associated with the human body into the expanse of the public and political arena. Belonging to a new generation of young Indian artists, Thukral and Tagra reflect on and live in India. Working collectively, they choose to express themselves through a wide range of media, following a desire to create democratic art for the masses.

Initial Access opened 19 January 2007, as a space to present exhibitions from Frank Cohen’s collection of contemporary art. It is sited on the outskirts of the millennium city of Wolverhampton, in two refurbished warehouses that provide 10,000 sq feet of exhibition space. Initial Access presents different aspects of the Collection in a series of exhibitions curated by David Thorp. The programme is designed to mount shows of new acquisitions to the collection, explore themes among works that maynot have been seen before and give the public an opportunityto see more of the collection currently in store.