In May 2007, New York, Bose Pacia Gallery presented "Put it On", an exhibition by the duo known as Thukral & Tagra.

Based in New Delhi, Jiten Thukral (born 1976) and Sumir Tagra (born 1979) work collaboratively in a wide variety of media including painting, sculpture, installation, video, graphic and product design, websites, music and fashion. Put it On was a unique exhibition aimed at arriving at a range of probable solutions for HIV awareness and vigilance through the visual arts. Thukral & Tagra are among a new generation of young Indian artists attempting to present a personal rendition of what is happening in the cities of India today with a particular focus on the global epidemic of AIDS.

The exhibition included large-scale paintings on canvas and mixed-media installations incorporating custom-designed products such as undergarments and foot wear. The art of Thukral & Tagra often presents a synthesis of the multiple mediums in which they work. The paintings are hung on vinyl wall-papers of their own design and fashion products are presented as store-like displays with messages promoting safe sex practices and with their own hyper-stylized logo incorporated throughout. The entire project has been described by the artists as "an eye opener (which has) taken us to places where things have become transparent, sensitive and responsible." Despite this socially conscious endeavor by Thukral & Tagra, they acknowledge that their effort is "definitely a mere baby step against the serious problem of HIV and its efforts."

Jiten Thukral completed his BFA at Chandhigarh College of Arts, India and his MFA at Delhi College of Art, India. Sumir Tagra completed his BFA at Delhi College of Art, India and his Post-Graduate studies in Communication Design at the National Institute of Design Ahmedabad, India. The artists have participated in a number of group and solo shows. Important recent exhibitions were presented at Gallery Nature Morte (New Delhi, 2007) and Teatro Armani, (Milan, 2006). In June 2007, they will present a site-specific installation in the Art Statements section of Art Basel 38 in Basel, Switzerland. They have received numerous prestigious awards and were recently singled out by Wallpaper as one of 101 emerging international designers and have recently single handedly designed the Indian Vogue offices. Both of the artists live and work in New Delhi.

Partial proceeds from the exhibition were donated to various charitable organizations dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS.

Images and text courtesy of Bose Pacia Gallery (New York, United States), Nature Morte (New Delhi, India) and AIF (American India foundation).

THUKRAL & TAGRA

Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra work collaboratively in a wide variety of media including graphics, videos, music, interiors, product design, paintings, sculpture and installations.

JITEN THUKRAL

Education
BFA, Chandigarh Art College
MFA, New Delhi College of Art

The artist lives and works in New Delhi.

SUMIR TAGRA

Education
BFA, New Delhi College of Art
PG, National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad
Shankar's Academy of Arts, New Delhi

The artist lives and works in New Delhi.

Exhibitions

2007
"Face East: Contemporary Indian Portraiture", Wedel Fine Art, London
"Adolescere-Domus," installation at Art Statements, Art Basel 38; presented by Nature Morte and Bose Pacia
"Put it On," Bose Pacia, New York (solo)
"Everyday Bosedk," Nature Morte, New Delhi (solo)
"Size Matters," Art Consult, New Delhi
The Armory Show, New York (Nature Morte & Bose Pacia)

2006
FIAC, Paris (Nature Morte & Bose Pacia)
"Vector Classics," Jehangir Nicholson Gallery, NCPA, Mumbai (solo)
"Vector Classics," Alliance Francaise, New Delhi (solo)
Taipei Art Show, Taipei (Nature Morte)
"Global Edit 06," Armani Casa with Wallpaper Magazine, Milan

2005
New Paintings, Nature Morte, New Delhi
"Iconography" Installation Project, Nature Morte, New Delhi

2004
"Visual Dialogue," Hype Gallery, London

Location on Map